The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has its own Internal Audit Unit. One of the challenges that has impeded effective internal auditing in the MOFA has been the lack of standardized internal audit approaches and procedures

MISSION

It provides a uniform basis of approved practices and procedures that will guide internal audit staff of MOFA in the conduct of internal audit activities

VISION

The vision of the internal Audit Unit of MOFA is to move away from the current practices to international best practices

FUNCTION

The Internal Audit Function
Internal auditing is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve an organisation’s operations. It helps an organisation accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance process.

The Internal Audit Function vis-à-vis External Audit
The objectives of the Internal Audit Unit are very different from those of the Auditor-General. The Auditor-General is appointed to provide an independent opinion on the annual accounts of the Government of Ghana (GoG).
The process and procedures adopted by both the external and internal auditors to test the adequacy of internal controls include analytical reviews, inquiry, observation and walkthroughs. However, there are significant differences which are explained below;

Area	External Auditor	Internal Auditor
Appointment	The Auditor-General is appointed by the President acting in consultation with the Council of State.	The Internal Auditor is appointed by the Governing Body or Management of MOFA
Responsibilities	The Auditor-General has sole responsibility for expressing an independent audit opinion on the financial statements of the consolidated fund. All judgments relating to the audit of the financial statements are those of the Auditor-General. The Auditor-General’s primary concern is whether the financial statements are free of material misstatements.	On the other hand, the Internal Auditor is responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of MOFA’s risk management control and governance processes as well as expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of internal controls within MOFA.
Independence	The Auditor-General is not subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority in the performance of his functions under the constitution or any other law.	On the other hand, the Internal Audit Unit is part of MOFA. Therefore, although the IAU in MOFA is a separate unit, it cannot have the same degree of independence as the Auditor-General. Internal audit’s independence is derived from its organizational status and adherence to professional standards.
Reporting	Reports to Parliament	The Internal Auditor reports to management, and sends a copy of the report to the Internal Audit Agency and they in turn report to the President.
Internal Control	The external auditor must understand how the internal controls are designed and be satisfied that the controls have been implemented. The assessment of the adequacy or otherwise of the internal control helps the external auditor to determine the extent of reliance on the internal controls for the purpose of the audit	The internal auditor assist in evaluating the effectiveness of managerial, financial and operational control systems and procedures of MOFA to ensure that anticipatory and remedial actions are taken where necessary.