Audit points to BAA shambles
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday March 13, 2020 12:43
Devasprasad Arrakkal from Mazars Botswana slapped BAA with a disclaimer audit opinion, due to the fact that there was lack of information during the compilation process.
“We could not leave an audit in ambience for lack of information. We had to start somewhere. As it stands all the financial reports from 2012 until 2017 have got a disclaimer,” he told BAA affiliates during their annual general meeting last weekend.
“We are unable to express an opinion on the financials due to the unavailability of information to support the figures that were given to us.”
Arrakkal said they only got some information from Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) but it was a difficult task. He explained that the information indicated the income that BAA received from BNSC and the other, was through bank statements, but without proper set of accounts, the documents were not of any use to the auditors.
Responding to the audit report, UB Athletics Club treasurer, Katlego Thwabi said the outcome of the report was an indication that there were no control measures within the association.
BAA vice president-finance, Raymond Phale said the previous executive committee was to blame for the outcome of the audit.
“We should all take the blame because we created the mess. You elected somebody, who did not know anything about accounts.
If there is anybody to be blamed it is you because you voted for that person and that led us to this,” he said.
Phale promised that moving forward, accounting would fall in line. He said the board has taken time to update the financial statements.
BAA president, Paphane Botlhale said they have made significant strides in the financials and they hope to clear the backlog by end of March. He said in the past there was poor record keeping by the association.
“I hope for an improvement in the financials from 2018 to date, especially that we now have a secretariat. They would be able to account for any transaction,” Botlhale said.
He said if the next financial report has a disclaimer, the board should be held accountable. A disclaimer is issued when the auditor has restricted access to information, such that they cannot issue an opinion.
Meanwhile, there were two applications for BAA membership from Mmadinare and Palapye. The members rejected the applications, as according to the BAA constitution, only the board has the powers to accept or turn down the requests. The board is expected to meet soon to deliberate on the matter.