Assessing internal audit quality in quasi-government institutions: evidence from Christian Health Association of Ghana Hospitals

Abstract

The Auditor General of Ghana’s reports on the public accounts of Ghana takes a direction of consistently reporting of malpractices. The role of internal auditors in preventing these occurrences constantly comes into the spotlight. Other researchers found that internal auditors devoted less time to productive activities. The study therefore sought to evaluate the quality of internal audit in the quasi-public sector institutions in preventing mass financial malpractices. Specific attention was given to areas of audit coverage obtained, independence and value adding benefits provided to the organisations auditors work for and challenges faced by internal auditors in performing their duties. Using a purposive sampling technique, seventy - (70) respondents from ten (10) CHAG facilities in BA Region of Ghana were selected for data. The respondents comprised of members of institutional management in the various CHAG hospitals. Data were collected using close-ended questionnaires and in the case of internal audit executives, follow-up interviews were conducted on specific issues for better understanding of the issues involved. The findings of the research showed that internal auditors in the health facilities obtained an average of eighty percent (80%) coverage on issues of internal controls in the health facilities. The setbacks of the function was that auditors reported to and were appraised by the Administrators/CEOs of the health institutions due to the absence of audit committees. This cast doubt on the independence of the professionals in their duties. Their challenges were on non-availability of training programs and logistics to work with. The research recommends that audit committees be established to liaise with the internal audit in their duties