Sunyani, Aug. 24, GNA - Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister has called on accountants to be innovative and creative in their operations.

He asked them to undertake Information Communication Technology (ICT) training and computer literacy courses to be abreast with modern accounting practise.

"I encourage you to be innovative and creative, adopt ICT training and computer education to upgrade yourselves to face modern challenges associated with your practice." Mr Baffour-Awuah made the call when addressing the opening session of the 47th Annual Conference of Association of Educational Accountants (AEA) in Sunyani.

The theme for the conference was "Contemporary Issues in Educational Delivery".

He noted that their services were key to the success of education delivery and advised them to be cautious and exercise the greatest restrain when expending funds entrusted into their care because cash was easily susceptible to fraud and other abuses.

The Regional Minister asked them to change their attitude to work and avoid delays in producing and making available financial information on expenditure to the appropriate authorities for action. He said the association would afford them an opportunity to plan, resolve nagging problems, make resolutions and chart the way forward. "This association provides a good platform to draw your attention to already existing rules and regulations that are being violated or ignored as well as other contemporary issues," he added.

Mr. Baffour-Awuah, an accountant by profession, urged them to correct the image of the profession that had been tainted and improve their performance especially with regard to procurement in the public service.

Mr. Emmanuel K. Essuman, Chairman of the association said the conference was a common platform to share experiences to promote good professional practises.

He said in addition, it would provide management an opportunity to bring to the notice of accountants policies, rules and regulations that would enhance the achievement of its objectives and targets. Mr Essuman said accountants looked forward to management, to bring to the fore matters of mutual concerns that would promote increased productivity and enhanced conditions of service in their institutions. He said some of the problems affecting their work included non-availability of computers to store, process and retrieve information resulting in the delay for submission of financial returns. Others were, poor infrastructure and absence of duty post accommodation and office that affected productivity.

Mr Essuman called on the management and administration of Ghana Education Service (GES) to review the work of accountants with regard to pay roll management and budget preparations that had been assigned to officials less endowed with accounting skills.

He advocated for a comprehensive basic financial training for head teachers to enable them manage the Capitation grant effectively. Mr Essuman appealed to the Teachers and Educational Workers Union, (TEWU) to expedite action on their working schemes and negotiations to avoid any industrial unrest.

Dr Kwasi Nsia Gyabaah, Principal of Sunyani Polytechnic, said the theme for the conference was appropriate because the main challenges facing education were funding and management. He said increase in tertiary education had been more rapid and the target under the educational sector was increasing at 18 per cent annually.

Dr Gyabaah said as accountants, they had a role to play in the management of education and should therefore, offer advice, consultancy and be more committed and honest with their profession.