Discussion of Matching Audit Findings with Public and Finance Senior-Officials

In continuity of the Office’s in-person meetings with Senior Finance Officials of Afghanistan’s Public Administrations, this time Mr. Mohammad Naiem Haqmal, “Auditor General of the Supreme Audit Office”, had discussion and exchange of views regarding urgent audit topics for improvement of Matching Audit Findings and Instructions Process on Tuesday, 23 Meezan, 1398 with participation of ten Deputies and Finance Directors of different Administrations.

Participants of the meeting included the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Science Academy, National Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs, Ministry of Higher Education, and Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations, with the discussion directly related to them today.

At the beginning, the Auditor General of the Supreme Audit Office stated the purpose of the meeting, which was Matching of Audit Findings and Instructions of authorities, and he added that Matching of Audit Instructions not only entails financial reforms but also it is one of the benchmarks of European Union and the World Bank; its achievement ensures monitory funds and we should not miss this opportunity, which is a need for government and public, therefore; according to the plan of Office’s Meetings with all the authorities, first, we have invited ten of the Administrations to exchange views and experience and to become closer to our goals as one mutual part.

In continuity of the session, a presentation was delivered for the purpose of better clarification of today's objectives by Head of Follow-up of Audit Findings; the presentation included outlining of four government objectives, in which two of them was related to the Supreme Audit Office, the first was, accomplishment of audit methods, the second was, matching of audit instructions pertaining the benchmarked ministries, which is supervised by High Council for Rule of Law that the SAO of Afghanistan is responsible for reporting to the High Council accordingly.

Subsequently, officials of Public Administration provided information for authorities regarding Audit Findings one after another and they presented suggestions to meet the challenges, which they have confronted during implementation, till the Supreme Audit Office cooperates in resolving their problems; the Auditor General of Supreme Audit Office announced his preparation and cooperation with them in meeting the challenges.

In conclusion, Mr. Haqmal said, for the sake of accountability and financial transparency of relevant authorities; the leadership of Supreme Audit Office is ready for any sort of cooperation, even if it is regarding the audit methods of the auditors; he further added that the Supreme Audit Office is always ready to each of the public servant and we concentrate on your suggestions and will duly take actions.

While, the Office has continued to the series of meetings and in-person visits with authorities; in the next meeting, they will discuss the technical aspect of findings in detail in order to execute the accounting and accountability in the expected and correct way.