Auditing in Controlling Fraud and Other Financial Irregularities in the Koforidua Regional Hospital, Eastern Region, Ghana

This research seeks to evaluate the impact of auditing in controlling fraud and other financial irregularities in the Ghana Health Service, case study of, Regional Hospital, Koforidua in the Eastern Region. Fraud in the public institutions especially in the Regional Hospital is ever-increasing problem, and date back to the ages. It poses huge challenge to the survival of many organizations worldwide. The fraud is a threat in the health sector as it denies people access to good quality health care. Auditing, which is a vital part of accounting, is to ensure more transparent, and make public bodies more accountable. The specific objectives of the study are: to examine the role of auditing in controlling fraud and other financial irregularities at Regional Hospital, Koforidua, and to assess the impact of auditing in controlling fraud and other financial irregularities in Koforidua Regional Hospital. Among the methodology in this study include the use of simple random and judgmental sampling technique. The sample size of 226 was obtained from the respondents and the analysis was taken using SPSS Version 20. Qualitative and quantitative analysis were undertaking from the data by use of tables and charts. It was found out that auditing controls fraud and other financial irregularities where internal control system is effective. Also, some of the respondents were not aware about the controls or code of conduct governing their work and therefore engaged in fraudulent acts or wrongdoings. It is recommended that management should conduct training for all personnel upon hiring on its code of conduct. In addition, appropriate enforcing of a code of conduct, in which employees at all levels are held accountable in the same way will go a long way to curb fraudulent acts at the hospital.