The Assistant Director of Audit and Information Officer at the Ghana Audit Service, Frederick Lokko, has urged journalists to ensure accuracy and proper context in their reporting on the Auditor-General’s findings and matters of public financial management.

Speaking at a national capacity-building workshop for journalists on the CitizenEye App and understanding audit reports, held in Accra on Friday, November 21, 2025, Mr Lokko commended the media for its vital role in Ghana’s democratic development. However, he cautioned that misreporting — particularly on cash irregularities — often fueled public misconceptions about audit outcomes.

He explained that irregularities highlighted in audit reports do not necessarily amount to theft or misappropriation. Rather, an irregularity is any action that contravenes the law, he added.

According to him, some cash-related irregularities occur due to procedural lapses, such as transactions done outside the GIFMIS platform, which still have to be reported because they carry monetary implications.

Mr Lokko encouraged journalists to thoroughly read audit reports, including the Auditor-General’s recommendations, before publishing stories. Doing so, he said, would prevent misleading narratives and help the public appreciate the context behind audit findings.

He also clarified the mandate of the Auditor-General, stressing that the office did not have prosecutorial powers. Its role is to issue recommendations and apply disallowance and surcharge measures, he explained, while prosecution and enforcement rested with agencies such as the Attorney-General’s Department.

During the workshop, participants received training on the various types of audit reports — financial, compliance, performance, and information systems audits.

Mr Lokko urged reporters to pay greater attention to performance audits, which assess whether public resources are used economically, efficiently, and effectively.

These reports, he noted, often highlighted issues that directly impact citizens, such as infrastructure challenges and service delivery shortcomings, rather than focusing solely on financial losses.

Mr Lokko also introduced journalists to the CitizenEye App, a digital tool that enables citizens to report national concerns directly to the Audit Service. He said public submissions through the app help inform and prioritise audits across the country.