Accra — Nine Commonwealth countries are mapping out new strategies to protect the public purse in their respective countries.

The countries which include the Solomon Island, Tonga, Tanzania, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Botswana, Zambia and Sierre Leone are attending a programme in Accra to exchange ideas to fashion new ways to protect the public purse.

Speaking at the programme, the Director General of the Internal Audit Agency, Mr. Patrick Nomo observed that the internal auditing of the public sector of Commonwealth countries brings zeal and passion that will safeguard and ensure judicious use of national resources.

"The Commonwealth Secretariat's framework for internal audit reform is the only one in the world and Ghana's reforms are in full compliance with the framework", he added. Mr. Nomo made these comments at the first internal audit exchange programme, which was held among nine Commonwealth countries around the world in Accra. Dubbed 'building pyramids in the valleys', the programme aims at enabling Commonwealth countries to learn from themselves and to also recognize the best international best practice culture environments.

Mr. Nomo noted that Ghana is worth studying from when it comes to internal audit reforms in the public sector. On his part, the Chief of Staff and Minister for Presidential Affair whose speech was read on his behalf by Mr. L. B Tusoe, urged participants at the workshop to make most of the opportunity in enhancing the internal audit practice in the public sector in their respective countries. "This can be achieved by sharing each countries experiences and also identifying approaches and procedures work better in other countries and how they can be tailored to other countries", he said. Further, he noted "I believe that Commonwealth countries have a lot in common and this approach will accelerate the process of adding value to our respective countries public financial management objectives."

Mr. Tusoe told the participants about how Ghana reformed its Public Financial Management system.

This, according to him, resulted in providing appropriate legal framework, developing a practical professional practice framework and also human resource to ensure internal audit support for public sector accountability and performance.