We’ll be stern in enforcing use of GIFMIS – Controller and Accountant General Department warns

The acting Controller and Accountant General has cautioned Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) and all local assemblies against the non-use of government’s financial management system, the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).

The computerized system has been introduced by the government to facilitate budget preparation and execution, accounting and financial reporting, cash and assets management as well as human resource and payroll management.

But the acting Accountant General, Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, observed some MDAs and MMDAs have failed to fully utilize the system in performing their financial transactions.

That situation, he explained, does not augur well for the implementation of public financial management being pursued by the government.

“I wish to sound a word of caution…to all MDAs, MMDAs who have failed to use fully, the GIFMIS platform to process all financial transactions to desists from this act,” he warned.

He indicated that going forward into the new year, “[we] will be stern on all MDAs and MMDAs who flout this directive”.

Mr Kwaning-Bosompem gave the warning when he joined the staff of the CAGD for their 2020 annual Thanksgiving Service and Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in Accra on Wednesday.

He said the CAGD has been committed to supporting the implementation of public financial management systems geared towards improving transparency and fiscal discipline in the public sector.

2020 was a success

The Accountant General said 2020 was a good year for the CAGD as they managed to chalk a lot of successes in the face of Covid-19, which caused economies to fall.

“I must say that Covid-19 notwithstanding, staff have demonstrated a high level of commitment and dedication to duty which ensured that the department chalked many successes,” he said.

For the first time, he said, the National Accounts Directorate of the Department produced and transmitted to the Auditor General, the 2019 national account one clear week ahead of the schedule.

“This is a record time which we don’t have to take it for granted,” he stated.

They also expanded the scope of the financial reporting to cover Internally Generated Funds, statutory funds, donor fund for MDAs and MMDAs, he said.

In the midst of the Covid-19, he said, they ensured that all government payments were honoured promptly, especially election-related payments. Also, salaries of government workers were paid on time.

He added, “We have also reconciled pension data from 2010 to 2017 in preparation for the first batch of employees that will start enjoying pension under the new pension Act”.

Mr Kwaning-Bosompem said they will continue to strive for excellent delivery consistent with their mission of providing public financial management service to the government.

Employment & Promotion

The Accountant General said approval has been granted by the head of Civil Service to increase the manpower ceiling of CAGD from 4,011 to 4,438.

“It tells you we have had additional 427 to expand the grades from senior accountants and above,” he announced, adding: “This will create more room for the just-ended promotional interview”.

More than 900 staff of the CAGD selected for promotion have gone through the processes and currently waiting for their promotional letters.

A few more, he said, are also waiting to go through an interview to complete the process.

Be grateful to God

Meanwhile, Mr Kwaning-Bosompem has asked his staff to be thankful to God for his mercies and protection for the year, particularly so as they did not record any Covid-19 case.

He commended the staff for strictly adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocols.

“As a result, it is gratifying to note that the CAGD has not recorded any known case of the disease among staff. We have a lot more to be thankful for than to be sad about,” he advised.

Chief Director of the Finance Ministry Patrick Nomo, who represented the Finance Minister, thanked the CAGD for their hard work which he said has ensured that very critical national assignments are undertaken and on time.

He expressed support for the decision for all MDAs and MMDAs to fully use the GIFMIS system for all transactions from next year but suggested an improvement.

Mr Nomo suggested that the payroll is also processed on the GIFMIS system on monthly basis.

“Starting from January, if it is possible, let’s have the payroll posted to the GIFMIS system…if you can do that for us we will be very grateful,” he appealed.

Meanwhile, he said the system where MDAs and MMDAs use GIFMIS and then go to excel sheet to put all their report together should be a thing of the past, and accordingly, asked the CAGD to improve the system to allow users to generate their full report without excel.

“When you have compelled us to use GIFMIS, you should just stay and get all our reports. You can’t force us to use GIFMIS and then after we’ve used GIFMIS to do the transaction, we have to use excel to run our report,” he appealed.

This year’s event was used to outdoor the corporate branded cloth and T-shirt for the CAGD which will be worn by staff on Fridays and on special occasions.

Executives for the Treasury Ladies Association (TREALAS) were also inaugurated.