Important role of accountants in economic mobilisation

Accra, Nov. 27, GNA - The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu has asked accountants to bring their training and expertise to bear on revenue mobilisation both at the national and district assembly levels.

He said the professional accountants were better placed to contribute in enhancing of the country's economic growth. The Minister made this known in a speech read for him at the 5th Graduation Ceremony of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), in Accra.

Ninety-six new affiliates and 41 members of the association were awarded certificates.

Mr Baah-Wiredu noted that both the ACCA and the Government were committed to delivering quality education and qualifications, especially at a time when the country has a great need of qualified accountants. He said in the current business environment, it was necessary for Accountants to possess good managerial skills apart from being technically competent to handle all accounts, audit, and taxation among others.

In this regard, he urged the graduates to patronise continuous professional development programmes to update their knowledge and acquire new skills to make their qualification relevant at all times, so as to help contribute their quota in achieving the vision of the government in promoting a "Golden Age of Business".

The Minister welcomed the idea that in collaboration with ACCA, it was possible to gain a bachelor of Science (BSc) Honours degree in applied accounting from Oxford Brooks University, as it allows students to gain a degree without studying full time on university campuses and also eases the congestion and pressure on our university campuses.

The Manager of ACCA, Zuwera Ibrahimah Mohammed pointed that the essence of ACCA certificates was the extent to which they were recognised and accepted worldwide, giving the qualification a global reach.

She said ACCA has forged very important relationships with employers of ACCA members and students through a unique employer accreditation scheme as part of its philosophy of "looking to the future".

About 33 students received several awards for good academic work, with Vincent Moses Adiko, as the overall best student (affiliate) for June 2004 with 192 marks.

The rest were Fuseni Kamagate as the overall (affiliate) for December 2004 with 215 marks; and Nana Yaa Boa Antwi, who emerged as the overall female best student.

Prof Victor Patrick Yaw Gadzekpo, president of Central University College, who chaired the occasion, conceded that the current 24 per cent female ratio of the graduates was encouraging and therefore called for more female enrolment in the profession.

He also identified honesty and transparency as a duty of an Accountant and advised the graduates to aspire for such high ideals.