Nov 2016 Q5 e.
There shall be appointed in accordance with Article 195 of the1992 Constitution, a Controller and Accountant-General who is responsible to the Minister of Finance”.
Required:
Discuss how the Controller and Accountant-General ensures public Accountability. (3 marks)
View Solution
- The Controller and Accountant-General is responsible for the compilation and management of the accounts prepared in relation to the Consolidated Fund and other public funds and for this purpose the Controller and Accountant-General may give general instructions to the Principal Spending Officers of departments which shall not be inconsistent with this Act or any regulations or instructions issued under this Act.
- The Controller and Accountant-General is the Chief Accounting Officer of the Government who has responsibility to keep, render and publish statements of public accounts as required by this Act or any other enactment.
- As Chief Accounting Officer, the Controller and Accountant-General is the chief adviser to the Minister and the government on accountancy matters and is the person who approves accounting instructions of departments and promotes the development of efficient accounting systems within departments.
- The Controller and Accountant-General receives, disburses and provides secure custody for moneys payable into the Consolidated Fund and other funds and for this purpose shall establish such accounts with the Bank of Ghana and its agents as are considered necessary for the deposit of the moneys.
- A bank account shall not be opened for any department except under the authority of the Controller and Accountant-General and a bank shall not open an account for any department without the authority of the Controller and Accountant-General.
- Without limiting the generality of these duties, the Controller and Accountant-General shall
(a) in consultation with the Auditor-General, specify for departments, the accounting basis, policies and the classification system to be applied in public accounting and ensure that a proper system of accounting is established in each case; and
(b) ensure, in so far as is practicable, that adequate provisions exist for the safe custody of public money, securities and accountable documents.