Effectiveness of the Role of Internal Audit in the Ghana Police Service

Abstract

Effective internal audit function in an organization has been argued out as one of the best way of curbing the menace of corporate scandals which resulted in the collapse of many corporate institutions in recent years. Internal audit department has been noted to be the custodian of internal control system that monitors and promote good governance system in an organization. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the role of internal audit within the Ghana Police Service. It emphasized on how effective the internal audit function is being pursued in the Service. Hence the assessment of factors that influence internal audit effectiveness (IAE) in the Ghana Police Service. Data obtained from the internal audit department in the regional offices of the GPS, and multiple regression analysis used to analyze such data to determine the association between IAE and other five principal factors. The correlation and regression analysis of these factors revealed that Competence and staff Size are positively associated with internal audit effectiveness at 5% significance level respectively. The other variables such as Relationship with external auditors, Ghana Police Council support and Independence of internal audit, showed a positive and significant association with internal audit effectiveness. The findings of the study reveal that independence, competency, the size, coordination between internal and external auditors, top management support have positive influence of effectiveness of internal audit function. Other factors such as competency level of internal audit staff which has been reported to be low and as well as other ad-hoc duties assigned to internal auditors are noted to be the factors that affect its function negatively. The research established that it behooves on the Police Council and Police Management Board to focus attentively on these important factors that pose a challenge, to promote the effectiveness of internal audit department in order to accomplish the vision, mission statements and the core value of the service.