Grand Gedeh County Representative Alex Cherisia Grant has submitted a bill to the House of Representatives for the establishment of an Internal Audit Governance Secretariat outside of the Ministry of Finance.

Representative Grant told his colleagues that the bill, when approved, would enable the internal audit functions to ensure systematic and disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance process.

He indicated that the bill would provide professional, objective, assurance and consulting activities designed to add value and improve their operations.

Representative Grant said the bill, when passed into law, would incorporate internal audit results into the priority-setting, planning and decision-making process of all ministries and agencies.

According to the Grand Gedeh lawmaker, the bill was critical to the country's fiscal management process, because it would help manage, control, coordinate and set a standard and procedures for the conduct of internal audit activities in government functionaries.

He said the Internal Audit Governance Secretariat would be headed by a Director General with the needed financial qualifications.

Representative Grant, however, clarified that the functions of the Secretariat would in no way be in conflict with the responsibilities of the General Auditing Commission (GAC).

The bill was received by the plenary of the House of Representatives and turned over to the appropriate committee for review.