The Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Professor Kwesi Kwafo Adarkwa has advised accountants to use their rich professional experience to enhance the fortunes of the country’s institutions and corporate bodies and not capitalize on their shortcomings to plunder their financial resources to amass wealth. Prof. Adarkwa said resisting the temptation to cheat the financial system and helping to plug loopholes was the right choice, saying white collar crime had been a major factor hampering the development of the country and Africa as a whole. “It is therefore incumbent on you as practicing professionals to ensure that every conduct of yours at any particular level of organisation or state does not amount to cheating on the existing system,” he said. He added that the “system loopholes you may identify must not be seen as a goldmine and exploited, but must be professional plugged”. Prof Adarkwa was addressing the newly qualified accountants at the 14th graduation and admission ceremony of the Institute of Charted Accountants Ghana. At the ceremony 145 students, including 18 ladies, were awarded certificates as professional accountants. Another batch of 67 including 20 females qualified as Accounting technicians. One hundred and ninety two of the graduands were admitted as members of the Institute, a procedure that gives them the power to write their qualifications after their names. Prof Adarkwa reminded the accountants of their unique role in the country’s quest to attain a middle income status since most institutions depended on their professional advice and input to take decisions. “This therefore puts your professional judgment on a high pedestal in decision making in many circles,” he stated. The KNUST vice chancellor charged the newly qualified accountants to expose others who acted unprofessionally. He further charged the accountants to apply themselves strictly to the teachings and principles of the accounting profession and that they should master their chosen fields and become experts by learning details about how to do their work efficiently. Source: Daily Graphic