President of the Chartered Institute of Accountants Ghana (ICAG), Angela Peasah, has called on professional accountants to work to uphold the ethics of the profession, as failure to do so will render them a liability to society.

“Keeping the ethics of our profession is not negotiable; if we do not abide by them, then we become a liability. As financial gatekeepers we must work to the benefit of society and the organisations we represent," she told graduates and newly-admitted members on the occasion of ICAG’s 20th graduation ceremony in Accra.

“I encourage professional accountants to be part of the solution and raise high the standards of the accountancy profession."

A total of 229 students graduated after completing various programmes, while 291 new members were admitted to ICAG’s membership.

Professor Joseph Magnus Frimpong, Dean, School of Business at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), advised the graduands not to yield to the challenges that may come their way as they enter the corporate world, and they should not be tempted to trade their profession for any other.

“Your success as a professional accountant will largely depend on the degree of commitment, competence and discipline one applies to his work. I urge you not to boast of your achievements but rather run the race to the end," he advised.

“Accountants are instrumental to the economic growth of the country and are needed in all spheres of economic activities. Do not seek excuses but rather go the extra mile by acting professionally, and in the best interest of society."

Professor Frimpong implored ICAG to make conscious efforts to register the Institute’s presence in the various tertiary campuses for the benefit of all accounting students.

Mr. Enoch Cobbinah, Chief Director at the Ministry of Education, asked both graduates and new members to be mindful of their responsibility to the country and approach their work with professionalism and integrity.

He urged them to also be productive and effective in their duty to the shareholders of their various organisations.

He further encouraged graduands to broaden their scope by thinking globally, stressing Government’s support for the Institute.