Member of Parliament for Wa East, Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, has called for the adoption of technology-driven systems to monitor audit recommendations and strengthen public financial accountability across African countries.
According to him, manual methods of tracking audit findings are no longer sufficient, urging African parliaments to embrace a shared digital audit recommendation tracking system that would make it easier to monitor the implementation of corrective measures by government institutions.
He made the call while delivering remarks on behalf of Majority Leader James Agalga at the African Organization of Public Accounts Committees (AFROPAC) conference in Accra on Monday, November 2.
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Addressing delegates under the theme, “Oversight for Resilience: Strengthening Africa’s Public Accounts Committees Amid the Shifting Financial Landscapes,” the Wa East MP said technology has become essential to ensuring that audit findings are properly assigned, tracked, resolved, and publicly reported.
He explained that a digital monitoring system would help transform parliamentary oversight from a process that identifies financial irregularities after they occur into an active mechanism for improving administrative performance.
“Manual tracking alone is no longer sufficient. The need for technology has therefore become timely,” he stated.
Jasaw disclosed that Ghana’s Auditor-General has already institutionalised processes to track recommendations arising from the work of the Public Accounts Committees, describing the development as an important step towards strengthening accountability.
Ghana, he said, recognises that the credibility of parliamentary oversight depends not only on the number of hearings conducted but also on the number of recommendations implemented.
The MP proposed practical collaboration among Public Accounts Committees, Supreme Audit Institutions and Ministries of Finance to establish a shared digital audit recommendation tracker.
He called for standardised treasury memoranda, clearly defined implementation deadlines, peer reviews of Public Accounts Committee performance and annual public reporting on the status of audit recommendations.
According to him, such measures would help prevent government institutions from repeatedly appearing before parliamentary committees over similar financial infractions without demonstrating meaningful corrective action.
Jasaw also called for stronger coordination among regional authorities, financial intelligence units and parliamentary oversight committees to establish a more effective accountability chain.
He urged parliaments to make better use of available oversight instruments, including transparent procurement procedures, beneficial ownership disclosures and stronger contract monitoring.
The MP said African countries were operating within increasingly constrained fiscal environments, characterised by rising debt-servicing obligations, volatile external conditions and growing demands for essential public services.
He maintained that effective public financial management is central to national resilience, macroeconomic stability and the relationship between governments and citizens.
Jasaw urged AFROPAC delegates to use the conference to develop actionable conclusions that would strengthen institutional cooperation and improve accountability across the continent.
The ultimate objective, he said, must be to ensure that public resources are protected and audit recommendations are translated into better services for citizens.