Works secretary welcomes audit on Connect PNG

Department of Works and Highways secretary Gibson Holemba has welcomed the audit into Connect PNG, which is set to start this month.

Holemba told NBC News that auditing the Marape-Rosso government’s flagship program will put to rest concerns raised by people.

“I think it's better the audit is carried out to put to rest most of these concerns that arise by the public and also the opposition against the government's Connect PNG program,” Holemba said when responding to questions by NBC News.

“And so it is important for the long-term benefit of the phase two and the phase three program of Connect PNG.”

The audit into Connect PNG Program is the first to be undertaken since the program was launched in 2020.

Chief Secretary to Government Ivan Pomaleu signed an agreement between the Government, accounting firm Deloitte and Norths Projects, a Brisbane base engineering firm to conduct the audit.

Holemba said it is important to review the performance of the program and enhance public trusts on the development in terms of procurement, standards, technical management of the projects, and the expenditure of the finance.

Deloitte has been engaged to a process and financial audit on implementation of Connect PNG, while Norths Project will concentrate on the technical aspect.

“So in terms of the terms of references of the audit, they are here to audit the six major projects and the legacy projects that were brought in in the phase one of the program,” Holemba said.

The Works department has received over K1 billion directly from government since the inception of the program in 2022.

Holemba said they received K150m in 2022 with an additional K200m in 2023 (K350m) and K600m from last year’s government budget allocation.

The secretary said all of the funding expenditure in the past three years under phase one of the project will be audited.

“So they are here to audit the expenditure of that particular funding that was allocated to us in 2022, 2023 and 2024 budget,” he said.  

“At the same time, they are looking at auditing the technical audits of the completion of those projects that were brought under the phase one program.

“So we welcomed audit. We are looking forward.”

Holemba supported government’s decision for an independent audit to review the Connect PNG program, to improve efficiency, monitoring compliance with laws and policies, enhancing public trust and confidence, and evaluating sustainability and long-term impacts.

He said an internal audit committee within the department would also be engaged to support the main auditing team to provide necessary information and documents required to complete the terms of reference of the audit.