Preserving Accountability

I read a most worrying LinkedIn post a few days ago. Posted by Vincent Sivré, it highlighted the threat to government accountability caused by deliberate efforts in many countries to weaken the independence of supreme audit institutions (SAIs).

The case of Sierra Leone was highlighted. There, the Auditor General was dismissed just days before an incriminating report on suspected corruption in the Office of the President was due to be published. There has been a huge public outcry nationally and internationally.

Unfortunately, the international oversight organization for SAIs, INTOSAI, says that this is not an isolated case. There is a steady and growing infringement on SAIs' independence worldwide.

If SAIs are weakened by intimidation, or by starving them of resources, or by political interference, where does that leave accountability and transparency? How do we hold governments to account?

This is disturbing in general, and it is worrisome for public debt management. One of the pillars of sound debt management is the audit of debt operations. Good practice requires annual external audits, typically by the national audit authorities.

This is already difficult to achieve. National audit offices are often under-resourced and, frequently, staff lack the skills and the necessary expertise to undertake compliance and performance audits of debt management offices.

INTOSAI, through its regional offices, has embarked on an excellent program to train national auditors in auditing debt management offices. This is crucial given the recent cases of hidden debts in some countries.

But if SAIs are weakened, how do they fulfill their role of ensuring accountability and transparency in public debt management, and more widely, in public financial management?

The Chair of INTOSAI, Bruno Dantas, has raised the alarm. Take a read of the latest INTOSAI Global SAI Stocktaking Report.

It's up to us to heed the call by voicing our support for continued independence of SAIs.