“Anything Wrong is Wrong”: Mr. Amasu Warns UEW Staff Against Unretired Imprest
Mr. Prince Eric Amasu, Deputy Finance Officer at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has cautioned staff against failing to retire imprest funds, warning that non-compliance with financial regulations could result in disciplinary actions including reprimand, demotion, interdiction or possible termination of employment.
Speaking during a presentation on the retirement of imprest and special advances at a two-day Budget Implementation Workshop organised by the Office of the Finance Officer at the North Campus Mini-Conference Room from Wednesday, 13th to Thursday, 14th May, 2026, Mr. Amasu stressed that all imprest issued for official duties must be properly accounted for and retired within stipulated timelines.
“Anything wrong is wrong, no matter how small the amount may appear,” he stated while recounting practical audit experiences to underscore the importance of strict adherence to financial regulations.
Using practical examples and interactive illustrations, Mr. Amasu educated participants on the responsibilities of imprest holders and the consequences of non-compliance with university financial procedures.
He explained that imprest is an amount of money advanced to staff or departments to facilitate small and urgent official expenditures and should never be used for personal expenses or procurement activities outside approved financial procedures.
According to him, unretired imprest constitutes a liability against the officer involved and negatively affects audit outcomes. He therefore advised staff to maintain valid receipts and supporting documents and ensure prompt retirement of imprest to avoid administrative and audit challenges.
Mr. Amasu further clarified the distinction between standing imprest and special imprest, stressing the need for accountability, transparency and discipline in the management of university funds.
The workshop brought together departmental heads, budget holders, administrators and finance-related staff to deepen their understanding of budget implementation, procurement regulations and financial management responsibilities within the university system.
Chairing the occasion, Prof. Charles Kojo Assuah, the Dean of the Centre for International Programmes, underscored the importance of continuous financial education and institutional compliance in enhancing operational efficiency across the university.
He explained that the workshop was designed to equip staff with practical knowledge to improve financial administration, accountability and service delivery. He also urged participants to engage actively in the sessions. He stressed that financial discipline and effective budget administration were collective responsibilities requiring the commitment of all staff.
Another key presentation was delivered by Mr. Francis Aidoo, Chief Procurement Officer, who took participants through procurement planning and budget execution processes within the University.
Mr. Aidoo explained that all procurement activities must align with approved budget allocations and procurement plans. He also highlighted recent commitment authorisation requirements introduced by the Ministry of Finance, which have impacted procurement timelines in public institutions.
He further educated participants on procurement methods such as international competitive tendering, request for quotations, restrictive tendering and single-source procurement while stressing the need for strict compliance with procurement laws and approval thresholds to ensure value for money.
The Budget Implementation Workshop forms part of UEW’s commitment to strengthening governance systems, enhancing operational transparency and promoting the responsible utilisation of public resources in support of quality teaching, learning, research and community service.
