CIDAN Investment, in collaboration with Communication for Development and Advocacy Consultancy (CDA Consult), is to organize the first in a series of training programmes in finance and investment communication for media practitioners in Ghana.

The training aims at equipping journalists with an in-depth knowledge for effective reportage in the ever-changing field of finance and investment, Dr Raziel Obeng-Okon, Chief Executive Officer of CIDAN Investments told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra on Monday.

He said understanding investment and financial markets was critical and that business journalism, although common in most industrialized countries, had very limited role in third-world and developing countries.

“This leaves citizens of such countries in a very disadvantaged position locally and internationally,” he said.

The first training on the general theme: “Understanding Financial Reporting within the Public Sector,” is slated for Wednesday December 17.

Dr Obeng-Okon said the training also seeks to build core group of journalists in foundation in the theory and practice of Financial Reporting within the Public Sector.

He said the collaboration with CDA Consult, which consists of media and Monitoring and Evaluation consultants, seeks to fill the gap identified in communicating development and advocacy results as well as effective monitoring and evaluation of projects.

He said with CDA Consult’s mission is to build a social process based on dialogue using a broad range of tools and methods to bring change at different levels including building trust, sharing knowledge and skills, debating and learning for sustained and meaningful change.

Dr Obeng-Okon said topics for the day’s training include: Financial Reporting within the Public Sector: Central and Local Government, Public Corporations and other state owned enterprises, public Boards and Authorities.

Fund Management: Public Versus Private; regulations, management, strategy and sequence of fund allocation; Public Sector Auditing: Classification, internal controls, verification and vouching, classes of fraud and Public Sector Budgeting: Approaches, budgeting by GOG, concept of strategic planning.

The rest are Sector Accounting; Fund Management; Public Sector Auditing; and Public Sector Budgeting.

The lecture is intended to provide the analytical skills needed for operating as a journalist in forefront of the financial world.

Media houses invited for the first training includes: Ghana News Agency, Graphic Communications Group Limited, Ghanaian Times, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Daily Guide, Joy FM, Citi FM, Business and Financial Times, Daily Dispatch, Ghanaian Chronicle, General Telegraph, TV 3, Metro TV, and The Finder.