Guadalcanal Province earns its first Qualified Audit Opinion, marking major progress in financial accountability
For the first time in its history, Guadalcanal Province has achieved a Qualified Audit Opinion, marking a major milestone in financial management and accountability.
This accomplishment reflects years of dedicated efforts to enhance governance, improve compliance with public financial procedures, and increase transparency in managing public resources.
Previously, Guadalcanal Province consistently received Disclaimer of Opinion audit reports, which indicated auditors were unable to obtain sufficient evidence to form a reliable opinion on the province’s financial statements. These reports pointed to significant gaps in financial record-keeping and internal controls.
In contrast, the recent Qualified Audit Opinion for Financial Year 2022-2023 confirms that, aside from a few specific issues, the financial statements now provide a fair and reliable view of the province’s financial position. This progress highlights meaningful improvements in financial systems and accountability, signalling a positive shift in public fund management.
This milestone is a triumph not only for the provincial leadership but also for the people of Guadalcanal Province. It reassures citizens, development partners, and stakeholders of the Province’s commitment to responsible governance and prudent financial stewardship, thereby building greater public trust in provincial institutions.
In a congratulatory message to the Hon. Premier, the Provincial Secretary, and all project-implementing staff, the Permanent Secretary of MPGIS, Dr Derek Futaiasi, and the Chief Technical Advisor of MPGIS/PGSP and Project Manager of IEDCR, Mr Momodou Lamin Sawaneh, urged the province to address remaining concerns.
They stated, “While this success is worthy of celebration, it also serves as motivation to maintain momentum and continue improving. We urge that you address remaining audit concerns, sustain compliance, and work toward achieving an unqualified audit opinion through strong leadership, effective internal controls, and a culture of accountability.”
In response, the Provincial Secretary, Maesac Suia, extended heartfelt thanks to various leaders, the public and the provincial teams for their ongoing support and hard work, marking significant progress since 2008 in Guadalcanal. In a statement, PS Maesac Suia acknowledged the leadership of former GP Governments and officers and current ones, particularly former PCDA Rhoda, current Provincial Treasurer, Heads of Departments, PPCs, Engineers, Specialists, former MPGIS management, the entire current MPGIs team, and PMU for empowering the finance team to enforce compliance and operate freely. He praised the dedication of this hard-working team, attributing the achievement to their collective efforts, ensuring compliance over the years.
Looking ahead, PS Suia emphasized that the work continues with the goal of achieving an unqualified audit. He highlighted the Provincial Governance Strengthening Program (PGSP) and the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) mechanism as key drivers behind these accomplishments.
“Glory and appreciation go to the hard-working team; I thank them deeply for this great achievement since 2008,” Suia said, adding, “The work is still ongoing, and an unqualified audit is our target. I believe the PGSP (PCDF) mechanism is the key driver for this achievement. Thank you all.”
As Guadalcanal Province embarks on this new chapter of excellence in public administration and financial management, the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) extends congratulations to all involved and hopes this historic accomplishment will inspire ongoing progress and benefit the entire Guadalcanal Provincial community.
SOURCE:// PGSP PRESS RELEASE
