Corruption in Africa and the role of accountants

I have been the Finance Manager of the African Women’s Development Fund since August 2007 and despite all the challenges that come with this job, I have enjoyed every day with this organisation. I started my accounting profession working for an audit firm and I had the opportunity of learning at first hand what all the business sectors in Ghana have to offer. It was during this period that I decided that I would like to work with an NGO that is engaged in community service. Of course I was also certain that I would only work with an NGO with a vision and mission that meets my own career aspirations and AWDF is just the right organisation.

Over the years I have developed a keen interest in the issue of corruption in Africa. Our governments continue to promise zero tolerance for corruption in their various manifestos and campaign messages but are unable to translate this into a reality. I was expecting the NPP government in Ghana for instance to have done far more to fight the corruption in Ghana than they did in their eight year term in office.

There are various types of corruption but the one I want to dwell on is where individuals inflate prices on contracts and get huge “kick backs” or payments are made to beneficiaries who have not rendered any service to the state. This has led to situations where the state has lost huge sums of money. Money which could other wise have been used to develop the education and health sector; the key areas of importance in any developing country. Experts have linked the poverty levels in the country to the extent of corruption within both the state and the private sector.

The role of an accountant is very critical in ensuring good governance and accountability in any organisation. The accountant is the one whose primary responsibility is to ensure that the scenarios as I have indicated above do not materilaise or even if they do, their impact is insignificant.

The accountancy profession is based on a code of conduct that all members are expected to comply with. The fundamental principles of the profession include but are not limited to integrity, objectivity, confidentiality, professional behaviour, professional competence and due care.

I know through my years of experience that professionals who exhibit the principles above will not condone malpractices that will lead to the state or private sector losing huge sums of money. However in cases where these principles are lacking, the organisation is bound to lose because there will be no accountability.

I will entreat my colleagues in the profession to continue to uphold the values of the profession. Let us be seen as the once who will tell the truth at all times. Ghana will never get to the middle income status if people in responsible positions continue to waste resources at the expense of the tax payer.

Gertrude Bibi Annoh-Quarshie
Finance Manager

Tips for African politicans…

The retirement package for the last ex President of Ghana has rightly caused upset in many quarters. According to Joy FM, one of the leading radio stations in Ghana, ex President J.A. Kuffour’s retirement package will include 6 cars, two private residences befitting a former head of state and US$ 1 million dollars to set up a foundation. Personally, I just feel disappointed that a committee and parliament will approve such extravagances for ex Presidents. It’s not like Ghana is the richest countries in the world.

One of my pet subjects is that of leadership and having been a leadership trainer and also a recipient of various leadership styles I wish to provide a few tips for African politicians.

My top tips for African politicians are:

1. Question your motives for becoming a politician. If you wish to become rich then it is better to become an entrepreneur. Your money will be hard earned and yours to do with as you wish.

2. Okay, so you have made the decision that you wish to serve your people. Remember that you are a public servant and that your authority has been bestowed to you by the people. Ask yourself whether your actions meet the needs of your people.

3. Develop formal and informal communication channels in order to receive regular and trustworthy feedback about your performance. How else would you know you are doing a good job? Or a bad job for that matter?

4. If you find you have sycophants in your inner circle, remove them immediately. Sycophants have led to the downfall of many a president.

5. Surround yourself with skilled, knowledgeable people who are committed to developing your country. Do not give people jobs because they contributed to your political campaigns.

6. Take on board constructive criticism and change accordingly.

7. Take personal responsibility when things go wrong.

8. Read widely and learn from some of the greatest public servants of all time. I think a lot can be learnt from the many works of Martin Luther King and Barack Obama’s ‘The Audacity of Hope’.

9. Ensure you meet the needs of all your constituents, especially the most disenfranchised, women, the poor, the disabled, and people living in rural areas.

10. Aim for proportional representation of ethnicities and genders in your cabinet and ministries. This will go some way to allay fears people may have about tribalism and is a good thing in its own right

I could go on and on but I think this is enough to start on. African people deserve better leadership than we currently have

Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah
Programme Officer
Fundraising & Communications

Yaa Asantewaa: Ramblings from an from old spirit

'Asante women, I pity you'. I made this statement in 1900 when the British captured me after a long hard struggle to defeat the British who had insolently demanded the Golden Stool to sit on. To sit on indeed! What insolence, but I digress, we are in a new world now and we are no longer fighting the British, at least not in the warfare of old. The warfare today is about trade, globalisation, a new world order...all these new terms that I had hardly understand. What does this all mean? It appears to me that it means the British, the Americans and all our former (and probably current) colonial masters are still in control. The new currency is no longer slaves but trade agreements. But I digress still, you have to forgive me, I am an old spirit. My body died in 1921 but my spirit has lived on. Its a good thing to be a spirt, some people are scared of spirits, they call them 'ghosts' and think they will come and 'catch' you in the night. What ever for? No, spirits like myself travel the world. All the things we could not do when encumbered with a physical body we are free to do now...I went to the white man's lands...England, America, Canada and observed the struggles of the women there. I went to the East, to India, Malaysia and Bangladesh and observed the struggles of the women there. And of course I have always watched over the women of Ghana. Please note that I said the women of Ghana and not the women of Asante. Of course I have a special place in my heart for the Asante women, I am a proud Asante woman but I watched the land that used to be the 'Gold Coast' evolve into 'Ghana' and so allow me to address the Ghanaian woman of today. Traditionally our people have always had a lot of respect for 'the old woman' of the house so I hope you will have the same respect for 'the old spirit' and listen to my words.

Women of Ghana:

* Do not allow people to decieve you about your culture and tell you that your culture is one that subjugates women. That is a plain lie. Ghanaian women of old were strong women who were well known for their abilities in farming and trading. Ghanaian women of today can also take inspirtaion from our ancestors and not only be farmers and traders but economists and heads of corporations.

* Polygamy is passe. Seriously, it may have had some value in the past. I have to admit for a lot of my women friends it was rather convenient to see your husband once every three months. You did not have to worry about cooking for him but in this day and age with HIV/AIDS I will not advice anyone to enter a polygamous marriage

* Get involved in Poliics. I know many of you think it is a dirty game but really it is only as dirty as the people involved...do not sit back and let 'a few men' decide your fate.

I have so much I want to say but perhaps you will stop listening so let me stop here. Oh one final thing, there are many more Ghanaian women heroines than myself, everytime someone wants an example of a Ghanaian heroine you trot out myself. To be honest, I am getting a bit bored of 'Yaa Asantewaa this, Yaa Asantewaa that'...you need to start researching the lives of African women and documenting their stories.

Stay well my children

Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah (inspired by the spirit of Yaa Asantewaa)
Programme Officer
Fundraising & Communications

P.S: I attended a meeting of Ghanaian bloggers last month and the group decided to blog from the perspective of a historical figure on the 15th of January, 'If she could blog...'. This is my contribution

Audacious hope for 2009

I have only just started reading Barack Obama's 'The Audacity of Hope'. I am literally only a few pages into the book, Barack describes a restlessness that characterises him and other politicians he knows. For himself he describes as a weakness 'an inability to appreciate no matter how well things were going, those blessings that were right there in front of me.' That's a sentiment I can echo and got me thinking about my blessings in 2008:

* I found a job in my native Ghana and moved home from London.
* I started writing a monthly column for a parenting magazine.
* Through my job I had the opportunity to travel to countries I had never visited including South Africa, Mexico and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
* I met some amazing inspirational women - Ama Ata Aidoo and Pregs Govender spring to mind.
* I had the opportunity to start my life from scratch and create new dreams, opportunities and ambitions.

For 2009 I look forward to:

* Starting a bead making course
* Taking a weekend break every 3 months (as I resolved to do in a previous blog post after reading 'What's the point of the Revolution if we cannot dance'
* Making time to collate and transcribe my grand aunt's oral herstory
* Becoming a card carrying member of my chosen political party, and being more politically active.

What are you looking forward to doing in 2009?

Nana Sekyiamah
Programme Officer
Fundraising & Communication