Bougainville Renews Governance Partnership with Papua New Guinea Auditor-General

The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) has reaffirmed its dedication to good governance through a renewed commitment with the Office of the Auditor-General of Papua New Guinea. The signing of a second Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) marks a significant step towards establishing an independent office of the Auditor-General within the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

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It has been a big challenge for us in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, in setting critical agencies of the government, critical institutions that align towards ensuring that we perform and we demonstrate good governance within the framework.

ABG Chief Secretary Kearneth Nanei expressed gratitude for the continued support, acknowledging the crucial role the partnership plays in fostering accountability, the rule of law, and transparency. He noted that the initial MoU, signed several years ago, provided a vital platform for pursuing shared objectives in public sector finance and government administration. Nanei emphasized the challenges ABG has faced in establishing critical government agencies and institutions aligned with good governance principles.

"Without the Auditor General’s Office in Papua New Guinea, without the partnership that we have with our internal auditors in the administration, in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, we were doing a lot of things badly," Nanei stated. He elaborated that the collaboration has significantly enhanced the region's performance and adherence to best practices in governance. The expertise and experience offered by the Auditor General's Office are seen as invaluable assets for Bougainville's development.

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Without the Auditor General’s Office in Papua New Guinea, without the partnership that we have with our internal auditors in the administration, in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, we were doing a lot of things badly. Our good governance wasn’t good. We were really quite not in the best practice, not performing the best practice in the government.

The renewed partnership is expected to further strengthen ABG's good governance platforms, building on the successes achieved through the initial MoU. Nanei conveyed his appreciation for the "overwhelming experience" and "overwhelming expertise" present within the Auditor General's Office, anticipating continued benefits for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

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So, I would like to thank you. Within the Auditor General’s Office, I can see this overwhelming experience, this overwhelming expertise that you have in this room that can be very beneficial to us in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.