Accra, Feb. 10, GNA - Mr Edward Dua Agyemang, Ghana's Auditor-General has called on the staff of the Audit Service to improve their academic capabilities. Mr Dua Agyemang gave the advice at the graduation of 17 workers of the Audit Service who took part in an eight-week course in Certificate in Administration and Management at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). The course was organized in collaboration between the Audit Service and the GIMPA. The 17 officers were the first batch to undertake the programme.

The Auditor-General expressed concern that some of the staff entered and exited the Service after 20 or 30 years without improving themselves academically. "I am happy to acknowledge the bold decision of the 17 officers to improve upon their backgrounds after remaining academically inactive for periods ranging between 17 and 34 years. "That is not to say that they have wasted those years but they spent the years in active and dedicated service to the nation as staff of the Audit Service."

Mr Dua Agyemang noted that the performance of the first batch had encouraged other officers who were previously not interested to also pursue similar courses in future. He expressed appreciation to the Training and Human Resource Development Unit of the Audit Service and GIMPA for their efforts in putting up the successful training. The Auditor-General said he looked forward to the extension of future collaboration to other courses, both academic and professional, in the continuation of human resource capacity building efforts of the Audit Service.

Since 2001, the Audit Service has assisted a number of its staff to pursue Masters' programmes at GIMPA, University of Ghana and the Central University. However, management of the Audit Service recognized that there are some officers who could not do the Masters' programme or the first degree hence the need for the course as a starter. He asked the graduates to let what they had been taught to reflect in their work to enhance productivity for the development of the nation.