Story by Dennis Bebane
In an effort to bridge the demand gap of 92,000 for chartered accountants in the country, the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG) has embarked on a sensitization programme for senior high school students in the Upper West Region.
The move is aimed at educating students on the benefits of becoming chartered accountants and the diverse career paths available, encouraging them to consider accounting as a viable and rewarding career option.
A member of ICAG and Business Lecturer at the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Dr. Paul Saayir, speaking to students at Wa Senior High School, demystified the perception that the accountancy profession has limited job opportunities.
The Upper West District Society of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana started the campaign with Wa Senior High School Business students and later visited Wa Islamic Senior High School at Busa.
Dr. Paul Saayir revealed that the country currently needs 100,000 chartered accountants to effectively manage and strengthen its finances. However, the number of chartered accountants stands at only 8,000, with a shortfall of 92,000. He stated that the emerging job opportunities within the accounting profession are enormous.
“I have so many science students who are now running away from science to business, and when I asked one of them, this was what he told me. He said that in Ghana and in the public sector of Ghana, there are three people who will never be poor — and these three people all have business backgrounds. “So I asked him who these three people are. He mentioned: one, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana; two, the Auditor-General of Ghana; and three, the Controller and Accountant-General. Then he mentioned a fourth: the Minister of Finance.
“You have to do business in order to get there. So it means that you are in the right class. Let’s not be deceived that as you do business there is no employment. No! Business people are employed everywhere. You can become a business leader, financial advisor, accountant, banker, among others,” he explained.
Dr. Saayir allayed the fears of students that when they study Business at SHS, they cannot be admitted to Nursing Training Colleges or Teacher Training Colleges. He said those misconceptions are not true.
Supervising Manager of Wa Community Credit Union (WACCU) and a member of ICAG, Dr. Abraham Dakurah, said ICAG is a global organisation, and that when one acquires the certificate, it will be relevant anywhere in the world.
“We are part of a global accountancy organization, and so when you acquire the professional qualification, you are relevant anywhere in the world to practice as an accountant. You don’t have limitations.
“If you find yourself in any environment, you can practice. And you are highly valued. The biggest jobs in the accountancy field are given to those who are professional accountants — chartered accountants — and some people have started writing the chartered accountants examination right after their WASSCE,” he stated.
He said every business entity requires an accountant to manage its finances. He urged those who aspire to become chartered accountants to be dedicated to their studies, disciplined, and determined.
The Upper West District Society also announced a sponsorship package for any student who obtains a single-digit aggregate in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Dr. Dakurah assured students that members of ICAG in the Upper West are ready to provide them with the necessary support to pass their exams. He explained that interested students can register for the exams after completing SHS. Exercise books were also presented to the students.
