Accountants have been urged to uphold integrity, objectivity and independence in the execution of their duties.The president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (Ghana), Mrs. Cecilia Nyan, made the remarks at the 17th graduation and admission ceremony of the institute held at the Accra International conference Center last Saturday, 10th April 2010.231 people graduated from the ICA, having completed their examinations in May and November 2009 respectively. 27 others passed the Accounting Technician Scheme West Africa (ATSWA) papers in March and September 2009. 271 persons, most of whom were grandaunts, were also inducted into membership of the ICA, after an appeals court judge, Justice Isaac Dose led them to take an oath of membership.Justice Dose also recommended that hard copies of the oath, be made available for newly admitted members to append their signatures rather than taking a verbal oath only.Of about 125 grandaunts for the November 2009 pass list, 18 received awards in 22 categories. Mr. Isaac Danso Agyir, a student of the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS), was the took four out of the 22 awards namely; professional Part 3,Professional Part 3-First Attempt, Financial Management Strategy and Advance Tax Planning & Fiscal Policy. He was also given a special award named The ICA President’s Special Award, making his awards 5 in all.Mr Agyir, who is also the financial controller of the Ghana Union of Professional Students, is the first to qualify as a member of the ICAG at 21.He completed all his papers within a period of two years, and was able to write 15 professional papers consecutively without a fail.Professor Agyeman Badu, Rector and Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), advocated the prioritization of human resource and capacity development on the African Continent.Dignitaries at the ceremony included Osabarima Kwesi Attah II, Omanhene of Cape Coast Traditional area, who qualified as a CA member in 1969,Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing , Dr. Hanah Bissiw, and Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Education, Professor Boakye among others.The Institute of Chartered Accountants (Ghana) was established by an act of parliament, Act 170, in 1963 and the sole body charged with the regulation of the accountancy profession in Ghana. Its members are the only persons recognized under the Companies Code (Act 179) 1963 for the purpose of audit of company accounts.To qualify as a CA member, one must have passed all 15 papers, and gained a year’s working experience.story by Gifty Andoh