President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday pledged government's support to the Seven-Member reconstituted Audit Service Board that he would support them to bring sanity into the financial management in the country.

He told the Board, "You are a passive force to be felt more than to be seen. If the figures submitted to you could not reconcile, write your report and action would follow. "Government would support you to bring sanity into financial management in the country", he said.

President Kufuor made the pledge when he administered the oaths of office and secrecy to the members at the Castle, Osu. He said the country's economy had suffered a lot from economic and financial mismanagement with the officials involved in managing the state accounts indulging in fraudulent practices.

President Kufuor said accountability and good governance enshrined in the 1992 Constitution had authorised the Board to manage and oversee the work of the Audit Service to ensure accountability. He said that was very critical and a major underpin of good governance and for sound financial management practice.

He said the members of the Board were chosen not for fancy but rather for their competence, work experience and their integrity to manage the Service and to ensure that they infused the sector with the right attitudes in financial managers and make them aware that, they would be brought to book for any malpractices.

President Kufuor urged the members not to be daunted by the problems associated with the Service, which had 700 personnel but only four qualified accountants. All the same they should be innovative and not relent until the Service rose to the challenges to become a Service that would underpin good financial management.

"Do not be over familiar with the agencies in the sector, your strength is your image", he added.

Ms Aurore Lokko, a Chartered Accountant and Chairperson of the Board said the Service had been criticised a lot in the past and with the calibre of people on the Board it would improve on its image for a sound financial management in the country.

She said they would establish cordial relationship with training institutions to ensure more qualified accountants join the Service to being it up to the required standard for sound financial management.

Other members of the Board were, Nana Kena Ampaw, Adontehene of Akyem Abuakwa, Ms Margaret Akua Prah, a Lawyer and Management Consultant and Mr E.N. Owusu-Ansah, a Chartered Accountant and Director of the Cocoa Services Division.

The rest were, Mr Dennis Vormawor, Chief Executive of Labour Enterprises Trust, Mr S.K. Agbenu, Chief Management Analyst at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service and Mr Edward Dua-Agyeman, Acting Auditor-General.