The Member of Parliament for Dormaa East, Paul Apraku Twum Barimah, has lauded the Controller and Accountant General, Kwasi Kwaning Bosompem, over the excellent role he has played in promoting transparency and accountability in the public sector financial management system.
According to, Paul Twum Barimah, The Controller and Accountant General recently launched three new documents to improve its work culture and strengthen its corporate character to enable the department to deliver on its mandate in an efficient and effective manner, a move that deserves commendation.
The documents include a bank account management operational manual for covered entities, an operational manual and a welfare health scheme fund.
Under the bank account management operation for covered entities, government is implementing policies and programmes through covered entities headed by principal spending officers responsible for managing public funds.
As part of the program principal spending officers are enjoined by Section 7(1) (a) of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act 2016 (Act 921) to, among other things, ensure the regulatory and proper use of money appropriated to their entities and also manage the resources received, held or disposed of by the entities.
In line with best practices, covered entities were to operate bank accounts, from which deposits and disbursements were to be made.
Section 51 of Act 921 provides the legal framework for the management of bank accounts by the covered entities, with sections of the law stating that a bank account shall be managed by a covered entity in accordance with the terms and conditions determined by the Controller and Accountant General.
The welfare health scheme fund, on the other hand was introduced to ensure that staff were in good state of mental and physical health to enhance productivity.
The health scheme was initiated to ensure lower rates of employee absenteeism or fewer sickbays, as studies have shown that corporate health programmes help workers to make lasting health changes, such as eating more fruits and vegetables, maintaining healthy weights, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as engaging in regular physical activities.
Paul Twum Barimah believes that CAGD has played a central role in the economic management of the country and said CAGD had led the implementation of key government interventions, all geared towards the government’s commitment to crack down on financial malpractice and wasteful public spending.