Mr. Joseph Odartey Blankson, President of Institute of Chartered Accountant Ghana (ICAG), on Tuesday expressed the Institute’s commitment to produce quality accountants for sustainable development of a strong economy.

He said ICAG had put in place some measures to improve the turnout of accountants while maintaining quality.

These interventions, he said, include the production of study manuals, special classes and a scholarship scheme for all first class students of tertiary institutions.

Mr. Blankson announced this at a press conference to create awareness on activities of the Institute and developments within the profession in Accra.

It formed part of this year’s Accountants’ Week celebration on the theme “Regional Economic Growth and Stability”.

Mr. Blankson said ICAG had sought to collaborate with some universities to improve on accountancy education and encourage post graduate students to sign on to professional accountancy programmes.

In line with this agenda, he said a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed with the University of Cape Coast (UCC) adding that the syllabus of UCC MBA/M.COM (Accounting Option) programme and the syllabus of ICAG Part 3 and 4 qualifying examination syllabus had been harmonised.

Mr. Blankson explained that graduates of UCC MBA/M.COM (Accounting Option) programme would therefore be exempted from Part 3 examinations of ICAG and would be prepared adequately to write the Part 4 of the qualifying examinations.

He said similar discussions had been initiated with some universities such as University of Ghana Business School, Institute of Professional Studies, Kwame Nkrumah Business School and Pentecost University College.

Mr. Blankson said in recent years, the Institute had recorded a steady growth in the admission of students and membership, adding that, the annual registration of new students for the professional programme increased from 1,423 in 2010 to 1,730 in 2011.

He said in April, 277 applicants were admitted into membership saying “accordingly, membership of the Institute now stands at 2,970 of which 2,350 are in good standing”.

Mr. Blankson assured the Institute’s commitment to strengthen the accountancy profession to effectively serve the public interest for national development.**