An investigative audit by the National Audit Organisation (NAO) on the Productive Home Programme (Khatwa) in Bahrain has uncovered patterns of corruption, leading to praise from Members of Parliament for Bahraini oversight institutions. MP Hamad AlDoy commended the Public Prosecution’s decision to refer three Ministry of Social Development employees to criminal trial for alleged forgery of official documents and damage to public funds. Additionally, a ministry official was referred for disciplinary action for negligence. AlDoy highlighted the importance of NAO and the Public Prosecution in overseeing government agencies to protect public finances and ensure accountability.
The Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, personally supported the investigation and stressed the need for greater transparency to prevent misappropriation of public assets. He emphasized the importance of enhancing the NAO’s powers to hold negligent and corrupt individuals within government agencies accountable. Prince Salman underscored that rigorous oversight by such bodies is essential for maintaining the integrity of systems, in line with modern practices adopted by countries worldwide.
MP Jalila AlSayyed echoed AlDoy’s sentiments, emphasizing the commitment of the Bahraini cabinet, led by HRH the Crown Prince, to maintaining stringent monitoring and public funds protection procedures. The government is determined to hold officials accountable for engaging in corrupt activities, manipulating records, fabricating documents, or neglecting their financial responsibilities to the public. AlSayyed called for more investigative operations by the NAO to uncover any wrongdoing within government agencies.
The investigative report commissioned by the Bahraini cabinet identified deficiencies in various government agencies, including the Social Insurance Organisation and the Ministry of Social Development. This indicates the effectiveness of audits in uncovering corruption and highlights the importance of expanding the auditing process to cover more government agencies and topics. The government’s commitment to transparency and accountability, as demonstrated by the action taken following the NAO audit, is crucial for maintaining public trust and ensuring the proper use of public funds.
Overall, the NAO audit on the Productive Home Programme has shed light on corruption within government agencies in Bahrain, prompting calls for stricter oversight and accountability measures. The actions taken by the Public Prosecution and the government demonstrate a commitment to rooting out corruption and protecting public finances. The support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa underscores the importance of transparency in preventing misuse of public assets. Moving forward, efforts to enhance the powers of oversight bodies like the NAO will be crucial in maintaining the integrity of Bahrain’s systems and upholding accountability within government agencies.
