Only 10 agencies accountable in 2009

NATIONAL

TEN out of about 1,140 government entities in PNG have proven to be accountable in 2009 with their use of public money, as heard during a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) inquiry yesterday.

This was made known to the PAC late last year by the Auditor-General George Sullimann.

“Not one national government department, provincial government, local level government, hospital board or provincial commercial entity is included.

“Hundreds of audits were disclaimed for want of information, records, accounts, reposts and other legally required records,” the PAC stated.

This was revealed during an inquiry by the PAC into the best performing agencies in 2009 yesterday at parliament and was led by PAC chairman Martin Aini and deputy chairman Dr Moses Manwau.

“The 10 entities made, kept, submitted and presented accounts, financial statements and necessary fiscal records to enable audit to occur and to satisfy the auditor-general that those records were reliable and gave a true and reliable summary of the financial affairs and operations of the entity.

“How did they do this when more than 1,000 other entities failed to do so?

“None of us are perfect but the fact that financial statements are presented fairly and in accord with generally accepted accounting practice deserves recognition,” the PAC stated.

Of the 10, four appeared at the inquiry – the Ombudsman Commission, Post PNG Ltd, Independent Consumer and Competition Commission and the Bank of Papua New Guinea – and were asked to explain why and how they were successful in their public funds management.

They were also urged to share with and help other entities in managing public funds wisely.

The other six successful entities were the National Agricultural Research Institute, Kroton No.2 Ltd, General Business Trust, Institute of Public Administration, Security Industries Authority and the Tourism Promotion Authority.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Public Curator, the PNG Sports Foundation (formerly known as the PNG Sports Commission) and the National Narcotics Bureau were inquired into by the PAC for their records of mismanagement of funds in 2009 and prior, as reported by the auditor-general.