The National Security Minister and member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG), Albert Kan-Dapaah has admonished certified accountants not to act in a manner that will bring the profession into disrepute.

According to him, accounting is a noble profession for which reason practices within the space must be geared towards economic transformation.

“While I was in practice, I always said to myself that anytime I sign a document as a chartered accountant, the collective image of the profession is always at stake”, he said.

The Minister added “that fraudulent document you signed reflects on the whole profession, and please never disgrace the accountancy profession because it has never disgraced you and I know it will never disgrace you.”

Mr. Kan-Dapaah spoke at this year’s accountants’ conference organised by the ICAG to mark accountants’ week celebrations.

Tax Consultant and Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana Law School, Dr. Abdallah Ali-Nakyea admonished members of ICAG to change the narrative of the profession to what he describes as accountability-based accounting.

According to him, accountants must realise that their functions are not limited only to the disbursement and receipt of funds, but that they are part of the overall management team of wherever they find themselves.

He added that accountants must work to the attainment of the goals and objectives of the organisation and lead in the economic transformation agenda.

Dr. Ali-Nakyea again said, “Move from accountancy-based accountability to accountability-based accounting so you’re not just posting the figures, writing financial statements, publishing audited statements, we want to know, how is it accounted for?”

The 2022 ICAG Accountants’ Week Celebrations was themed, “Accountancy and Accountability, Transforming Africa’s Economies.”