His Excellency Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed: Enhancing cooperation, integrity and professionalism.
H.E. Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Auditor General of the National Audit Office (NAO), handed over the NAO's 21st annual report for the professional year 2023/2024 to H.E. Parliament Speaker Mr. Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam and H.E. Shura Council Chairman Mr. Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh during two separate meetings today.
H.E. Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa said that the support and patronage by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the entities covered by the NAO’s audit mandate to follow up on the implementation of the recommendations and observations in the NAO reports, as well as the NAO’s full independence granted by law enabled it to perform its duties efficiently and transparently.
During separate meetings with H.E. the Parliament Speaker and H.E. the Shura Council Chairman, H.E. the Auditor General discussed enhancing cooperation in audit work and strengthening the principles of integrity, honesty and professionalism, to contribute to achieving the goals of the comprehensive national development process led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
H.E. the Auditor General thanked the members of Parliament and the Shura Council for their attention to the reports, their follow-up on the observations and recommendations issued by the NAO, and their significant role in supporting the national interest.
Based on the constitutional and legal framework of its establishment, the NAO conducts Financial, Performance, Compliance and Information Systems Audit in addition to investigative Audit.
The entities covered by the NAO’s audit mandate include ministries, directorates, public organizations that constitute the administrative set-up of the State, the Shura Council, Parliament, the Municipal Councils, companies in which the State holds more than 50% of their capital, or which the State guarantees a minimum profit or which it provides with financial assistance, and any other entity which His Majesty the King authorizes the NAO to audit according to Article 4 of the NAO's Law.
It is noteworthy that during the past professional year, the NAO completed 96 audit tasks and issued 142 reports. In addition, 96 follow-up reports were submitted to ensure that the entities subject to its audit implement the recommendations received in previous years, and about 1010 recommendations were issued.
During the professional year 2023/2024, the NAO followed up on the implementation of its recommendations in its previous reports which revealed that audited entities implemented (or started implementing) 84.7% of the recommendations, an increase of 1.7% over the previous professional year.
The two meetings were attended by H.E. Deputy Auditor General for Performance Audit, Fayeq Ali Dhaif, H.E. Assistant Auditor General for Performance Audit, Qasim Ahmed Almadhoob, H.E. Assistant Auditor General for Regularity Audit, Basma Abdulrahman Alahmed, and Manager of the Office of the Auditor General at the National Audit Office, Mohamed Fuad Sater.
