Financial management legislation yielding desired results - Ato Arthur

Cape Coast, Oct 22, GNA - Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, on Wednesday lauded the enactment of the Financial Administration, Procurement and the Audit Agency Acts, saying it has helped to improve the country's resources tremendously. Nana Arthur said currently, a Parliamentary Select Committee was working to ensure that public servants are held accountable for state resources entrusted in their care, adding that the need for transparency and accountability has become more imperative for developing countries, including Ghana.

Nana Arthur made these remarks in Cape Coast when he opened a three-day seminar on financial management for accountants, storekeepers, as well as regional and district commanders of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in the southern sector. The seminar aimed at improving the participants' knowledge in financial and related matters during which they would deliberate on issues such as internal controls, financial management, procurement and safety fund.

Nana Arthur said Ministries, Agencies and Departments had been tasked to imbibe the legislations, which form the basis of their day-to-day management of government resources. On the forthcoming elections, Nana Arthur told the participants that they had a crucial role to play as members of the security services and exhorted them to conduct themselves creditably. "We should all harp on issues that will bring us together as one people with a common destiny, rather than issues which will divide us," he said.

Mr Cornelius Woedi, Director of Finance and Administration of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), cautioned the participants to be extra cautious when taking financial and procurement decisions. "Our prudent decision making will determine whether we will one day be hauled before the Public Account Committee (of Parliament) or not," he said and warned that any act of mismanagement or misapplication funds, irrespective of the size of their operational areas, would affect the entire budget for the Service. He added that appropriate sanctions would be applied to all those who will be found culpable through the Audit Report Implementation Committee (ARICA) findings, which he said, was proving very effective in exposing malfeasance. Mr Woedi, who is a Deputy Chief Fire Officer, said the GNFS had responded to 2,279 cases of fire outbreaks nationwide as of end of August this year.

He said these fire outbreaks led to the loss and damage of property estimated at GH¢5,351,177. He also briefed them on reforms being initiated on issues pertaining to their conditions of service, including pension scheme and the consolidation of all allowances into their basic salaries.