Makers and Partners (MAP), a chartered accountancy firm, has extended its free capacity-building programme to 25 internal auditors of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

This forms part of its efforts to build the capacity of internal auditors within state institutions in the country.

One of the main challenges of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is the forging of claims by some Service Providers.

The workshop, which was facilitated by Wilfred Neneh Addico, a forensic investigation expert, therefore aimed at equipping the participants with the requisite forensic investigation skills to safeguard the Authority from internal threats such as fraud.

Alfred Aryee, a partner at MAP, in his remarks, stated that the gesture formed part of the Firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility, as they intend to provide training in the area of forensic audit to at least 10 state institutions, this year.

He said MAP recognises the role NHIS plays in the health sector and emphasises the need to build the capacity of internal auditors to help curb a lot of challenges facing the Scheme and insurance fraud at large.

He said the participants were taken through the details of effective planning of an investigation, practical and useful skills for evidence gathering and preservation using the appropriate techniques and tools, including adequate documentation of procedures to obtain evidence.

On his part, Rudolf Zimmerman, Head of the Assurance Department of the Internal Audit Directorate at NHIA, commended MAP for the training programme and said the participants have acquired knowledge on investigation planning, execution, reporting, and ensuring that there is quality assurance so far as investigation was concerned.

He pointed out that one of their challenges was about capacity building, adding that ‘the auditing space is becoming more complex so is important to always match with the complexity of the audit procedures, and capacity must be built at all times to remain relevant”.

Mr Zimmerman, who touched on the need for regular training workshops, anticipated that MAP’s workshop would help fill the gaps and probably ease the process of audit and with that knowledge, they would be able to do the audit within a limited time with sufficient competence.

Kwasi Ampadu-Kissi, Managing Partner of Kissi Consult, also said as part of efforts to tackle issues within the auditing space, management of state institutions must create a good atmosphere for internal auditors to operate and also treat their reports fairly.

He said they should be empowered to work diligently and their reports should be worked on.

“Reports usually contain a lot of suggestions for improvement which goes a long way to improve the day-to-day activities of the organisation,” he said.