ICAG holds 19th graduation and admission ceremony

Accra, April 14, GNA - Mr Joseph Odartey Blankson , President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG), on Saturday stated that high quality sustainable accounting and auditing profession was an important part of every developing and emerging economy.

According to him, the accountancy profession could be a bulwark against fraud and corruption and at the same time a significant resource to entrepreneurs and institutions in all sectors of the economy.

Mr Blankson made this observation at the 19th graduation and admission ceremony of the Institute in Accra.

Two hundred and twenty-one students who successfully completed the professional examinations of the institute in May and November last year graduated as 277 qualified accountants were formally admitted as members of the Institute.

Mr Blankson said ICAG since its inception in 1963, has admitted over 2,600 members in good standing, but was doing much more in order to improve both quantity and quality of accountants.

“To improve both quantity and quality of accountants, council has concluded with the University of Cape Coast on the structure and content of their graduating programme in business Administration with accounting option. This arrangement would qualify their products to write only the final part of the institute's professional examination”, he said.

He said the Institute would from July, this year, introduce a scholarship scheme for all first class graduates of universities who want to pursue accountancy as a profession, which would cover exemption fees, annual subscription and examination fees

Mr Blankson noted that the Institute currently runs two major programmes; The Professional Chartered Accountants Programme and the Ghana Accountancy Technicians Programme, which has been repackaged and harmonized throughout the West African sub region and now known as The Accounting Technician Scheme in West Africa.

The development of accounting technicians was important in filling the gap in the provision of efficient and prudent accounting services and also setting the pathway for qualified accounting technicians to develop further as professional accountants, he added.

Mr Samuel Obadai Annan, a Financial Management Consultant, urged graduating class to be prepared to broaden their horizon and ensure that they develop to consolidate the ethics of the profession.

He said as professionals, they must regard themselves as ambassadors of the institute, and avoid any bad attribute to the profession.

“It is your duty to advance yourself in all areas to achieve professional competence, begin to develop a carrier plan and don't confine yourself to your comfort zone, he added.

He called on them to be prepared and willing to serve at various committee levels and to give back to the Institute what they had gained.

GNA