80+ PUBLIC BODIES FAIL TO ACCOUNT FOR USE OF PUBLIC MONEY

TRANSPARENCY International PNG (TIPNG) has highlighted that majority of public bodies have failed to submit annual financial statements for multiple years, as required under the amended Public Finances (Management) Act 1995).

According to TIPNG’s “ACCOUNTABILITY SCORECARD”, of the 132 public bodies recorded, 80 public bodies had not submitted their 2022 financial statements to be audited, in addition to 183 financial statements for 2021 and prior years have also not been submitted to AGO for audit.

As the nation of Papua New Guinea is almost halfway to the next National General Election, TIPNG is calling on the Members of Parliament and the Department of Finance to support the Auditor General’s Office (AGO) in making a commitment to ensuring public audit reports are submitted and tabled in Parliament, as a measure to improve the accountability of these entities in spending public money.

Chairman of TIPNG, Mr Peter Aitsi, says “TIPNG calls on public bodies and statutory authorities to check their score on the Scorecard and work with the Department of Finance and the Auditor General’s Office to ensure the provision of timely, accessible, and accurate public audit reports.

Mr Aitsi says, the Government must ensure that all public accounts are in order and made available to the public, at it is critical and serious to keep the officials accountable in their performance and responsibilities.

To further ensure accountability in the public sector, TIPNG now calls for:
• The Department of Personnel Management, Public Accounts Committee and other responsible ac tors must take swift and decisive action to hold government entities accountable for breaches of law.
• Parliament must consider the Auditor General’s recommendation for the establishment of legislative requirements to make renewal of contracts of Chief Executive Officers subject to the timely submission of financial statements and prudent financial management.
• All Papua New Guineans must demand greater accountability from the government and report any corrupt acts that they encounter.