The 9th FIGE International Symposium, themed “The Challenges of Good Governance and the Vital Role of Oversight Institutions: Standardization and Cooperation,” began on October 20, 2022, at the Kintélé Conference Center in Brazzaville, with words of thanks from the new Chair of the FIGE Steering Committee, Mr. Germain Kiamba, addressed to the experts speaking at the symposium as well as to the participants in attendance to benefit from the various presentations at this event.
Several experts took turns presenting insightful content based on their experience, addressing the subtopics proposed for this conference.
- The Powers and Resources of Supreme Audit Institutions for an Effective Public Sector in Africa
Jean Pierre Moucko, Inspector General of the IGE of the Congo, presented the concepts and definition of governance, its origins, and its multidimensional nature within the public sector.
Michel Dognon, an international expert, discussed the mandate of Supreme Audit Institutions, their accountability for their conduct during investigations, and the quality of their work. He emphasized the need for inspectors, controllers, and auditors to maintain impeccable conduct, guided by the code of ethics and setting an example in the performance of their duties.
Professor Farouk Hemici presented a socioeconomic analysis of how to improve performance through cost reduction in the public sector. He illustrated his points by highlighting the significant portion of hidden costs in public sector spending.
- Mechanisms for safeguarding public funds
The two speakers on this subtopic, Mr. Tangboli, General Manager of the Postal Bank of Congo, and Mr. Okambawa, an auditor, presented to the audience the mechanisms put in place to safeguard public funds, using the example of the Postal Bank of Congo and focusing on the impeccable conduct required of the administrators of these funds, as well as the ethical standards demanded by this concept of safeguarding public funds.
- The Fight Against Corruption and Fraud in Public Administration
This panel featured a presentation by Mr. Ocko, a consultant and anti-corruption activist. He highlighted the essential role of political leaders in implementing an effective anti-corruption strategy. Using a comparative approach supported by statistics, he sought to help participants “understand corruption,” particularly in Africa.
Professor Farouk Hemici, for his part, presented a case study to provide a better understanding of fraud risks and how to manage them through the use of process and workflow analysis. He outlined the international framework for risk management while explaining how to implement a process and workflow analysis strategy to better detect fraud.
- Supreme Audit Institutions and Legal Action
The collaboration between Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) and judicial authorities was presented by Mr. Boïdé, State Auditor of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. He highlighted the need for coordination to better combat corruption. This collaboration requires effective cooperation between these two entities, supported by a well-thought-out and clearly defined framework for their relationship and intervention strategies, in order to successfully achieve their shared objective.
