ICA-Ghana inducts new members

Accra, April 28, GNA - The Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG) on Friday inducted about 183 qualified accountants into the membership of the Institution with a call on members to put professional responsibility above personal gains.

They should also adhere to the highest standards of performance by rejecting opportunities or assignments that might compromise the principle of integrity.

"This revered level of integrity will require increased vigilance, commitment, honesty and dedication from you as professionals," Mrs Cecilia Nyann, Managing Partner of Intellisys, a firm of chartered accountants, said.

Mrs Nyann, who was speaking at the induction seminar for the newly inducted members, said as professionals they should be able to link specialized services to broader areas of business practice as competence would continue to be ever-shifting target as business demand for knowledge and insight increased.

She said this value would increase the focus on the need for high quality pre and post education and could not be separated from continuing education and life long learning.

"Continuing education beyond certification is important to continuously acquire new skills and knowledge. This will enable individual professional growth and help with your contribution to businesses and our nation," she said.

Mrs Nyann, who is also a Council Member of ICAG, urged the new members to actively seek to expand their skills by integrating learning and working experiences and to remain committed to staying on the leading edge of expanding knowledge and should be aware of public need and interest.

She said professionals could only survive on a well-deserved reputation for integrity, honesty and professionalism and congratulated them for deciding to be accountants and pursuing the difficult but rewarding career.

Dr Raphael Sylvan Amegashie, an Investment Consultant, said the ICAG was set up in 1963 to make provision for the conduct of examinations as well as provide for other matters connected with the accountancy profession.

He said it had a membership of about 1,500 currently but about 500 members were not in good standing with the Institute and urged them to honour their obligation to enable it to mobilize enough money to undertake other activities. Mr Ace Anan Ankomah, Partner and head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department of Betsi-Enchill, Letsa and Ankomah; an Accra law firm, advised the ICAG to review its Chartered Accountants Act, 1963, Act 170 to depict the current situation on the ground.