The public hearing on the Auditor General’s Report opened the audit stage of the budgetary process to the public and thereby contributing to openness and transparency of the budget process. The exercise consolidates the role of Parliament in the budgetary process by holding public officials accountable in the discharge of their duties and exciting public interest in Parliament’s efforts at increasing transparency and accountability in democratic governance of the country.

Whilst there is general agreement that the process will induce accountability in the use of public funds, the exposure of cases of incompetence, mismanagement, fraud and dishonesty in the management of public funds sounded very alarming to the entire citizenry. In addition to various forms of financial malfeasance revealed at the public hearing, there was ample evidence of poor records keeping and data management within the public sector.  The revelations at the public hearing is the strongest signal yet that the collaboration of all arms of government – Executive, Parliament and Judiciary is a prerequisite for rooting out the abuse of public resources and the inimical impact on national socio-economic development. Therefore it is encouraging to observe the cooperation between the PAC and the MDAs during the hearing process.