Final year Accountancy students of the Cape Coast Technical University have paid an Industrial visit to the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) in Accra to familiarize themselves with the functions and operations of the Department.
Welcoming the students, Mr. Raphael Ayiglo, a Deputy Head,Human Resource Management Directorate of the Department commended the students for embarking on such an exploratory tour as such visits provided students the opportunity to obtain firsthand information and insight into what really happens in the field of work as against what was thought in schools.
He said the CAGD is the main Accounting machinery of the State with the Controller as Chief Advisor to the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning on Accountancy matters and that the Department amongst others, makes disbursement on behalf of Government, including the payment of monthly salaries to Government employees and pension payment to persons on retirement, as well as release funds to execute Government projects and developments throughout the country.
Mrs. Matilda Adjei Gbedema, Payroll Coordinator of the CAGD took the students through the various processes culminating into the regular and prompt monthly payment of salaries for state employees and pensioners which involved checks and validations from the employing Ministries, Departments and Agencies to the Accra Offices of all regions in the country.
Mr. Sebestian Azumah, Head of Accra Salaries said the introduction of the Electronic Salary Payment Voucher (ESPV) and the Biometric payment systems have contributed greatly to the elimination of ‘ghost names’ and all type of improper payment as far as salaries and pensions were concerned.
Mr. Frederick Dela Tsotovor the Deputy Chief Cashier of the Department explained to the students the various stages involved in the release of Government funds especially the processes for budgeting by the MDA’s and the issue of warrant before funds were released.
He said the introduction of the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) has brought about sanity and prudence in the handling of all Government financial transactions with eaze and finese.
The Cape Coast Technical University Accounting students, led by Mr. Adjei Ahmed Yaqub, a Teaching Assistant, expressed their gratitude to the Controller and Accountant General, Mr. Seidu Kotomah , Management and staff of the Department for making it possible for them to undertake such useful exercise and the warm reception accorded them.
