Public Sector Finance Officers have been urged to uphold the principles and the code of ethics of the profession to ensure integrity, objectivity and professional judgment in the performance of duty.
Mr. John Bosco B. Atogiba, Chief Director of the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council, said Ghana lost several thousands of cedis through leakages and corruption as a result of ghost names on the payroll.
He tasked the Controller and Accountant General’s Department and the Ministry of Finance to put in more efforts in their quest to clean the payroll.
Mr. Atogiba was addressing a training workshop organised in Wa for public sector accounting staff on “Essential Public Sector Accounting, New Performance Management and Appraisal System”.
The forum was to help update accountants on the new public financial management system. It was to equip them on matters relating to the new performance management policy of the public service and public payroll management, and the role of staff in ensuring payroll integrity at all levels of the Controller and Accountant General’s Department.
Mr Atogiba said the perceived corruption in the public sector could be attributed to the lack of professionalism among some accountants.
The Chief Director said the strategic position of accountants should help in reducing corruption and wastage in the public sector and promote sound financial management.
He therefore tasked the accountants to help develop, initiate and execute innovative plans that would improve the finances of metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to avoid the over-dependence on government’s transfers and donor support to undertake development projects.
Mr. Edward Boateng, Director of Training, Controller and Accountant General’s Department, said it was important for accountants to enhance their skills in the areas of operations to help deliver quality services
He said it was equally important for finance officers to apply skills in accounting principles and techniques in the management of public funds at the ministries, departments and agencies, as well as metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.
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