Finance Section Equips Accountants to Build Efficient Financial Management System in UEW
The Finance Section of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has held an annual retreat and capacity building workshop for accountants in the University at the Royal Lee’s Hotel, Tutu Akuapem at the Eastern Region of Ghana.
The workshop, held from Wednesday, 3rd to Friday, 5th March, 2021, under the theme “Building an Efficient Financial Management System in the University: The Role of the Accountant”, was aimed at making participants understand, embrace and hold fast to the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) to help position UEW to deliver on its mandate, achieve its strategic aspirations and meet the high expectations of stakeholders.
The three-day workshop also took participants through several thought-provoking topics such as professional grooming and leadership skills, self-care and stress management, and performance review and deployment of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
The Finance Officer, Mr. Francis Obeng, in his address, pointed out that the Finance Office staff were cognisant of their roles and responsibilities in achieving a solid PFMS in UEW. “We do not want to pride ourselves on past achievements but to proclaim our continuous commitment to the future to make it better than before.
“We appreciate the enormity and dangers associated with the sensitive roles that we play in managing the University’s resource envelop. However, we have not allowed changing scenes of the life of the University to cripple our mandate but rather the wisdom in relying on God and seeking his face keeps our heads up high in the sky,” he stressed.
The Director of Quality Assurance, Prof. Emmanuel Obed Acquah, who chaired the workshop on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni, emphasised the pivotal role of the Finance Office in the affairs of the University.
“Indeed, the Finance Office has been doing very well and it is just right you come together, share experiences and update your knowledge on some of the things that you do. Some of you are always in the office and never socialise. You don’t even know your own colleagues within the Finance Office. Even at this retreat, some of you won’t endeavour to socialise with others. I think this is an opportunity for you to catch up on some of the lost time. Please, make sure you connect and share experiences that other colleagues have,” Prof. Acquah averred.
The Director of Quality Assurance emphasised the importance of capacity building workshops. He, therefore, urged participants to take the opportunity to sharpen their skills and knowledge to improve the financial dispensation at the University.
The Deputy Registrar, School of Graduate Studies, Mr. Jerry Addison Anyan, who represented the Registrar, Surv. Paul Osei-Barima Esq., expressed the Registrar’s appreciation for the invitation. He conveyed to participants the Registrar’s belief in the essence of “spending time to sharpen one’s axe to enable them to spend just a few moments doing the actual cutting of the tree”.
Mr. Anyan suggested to the Finance Officer to explore the possibility of organising a joint retreat for both Registry and Finance staff.
“I believe that the University hinges on these two functions; nothing can be done in the University without finance. Decisions can be taken; implementation can start but it cannot get anywhere without financing and so any effort that aims at enhancing how you can bring in more money quickly and how the money can be expended to accomplish our objective, is to be supported,” the Registrar’s representative remarked.
The Ag. Procurement Officer, Mr. Dominic Nibeneanaa Kuutiero, reiterated the strong and lovely bond existing between the Finance and Procurement sections. “We have taken note of the fact that in several of your activities, you remember us and you allow us to learn from you and improve upon our processes. I think this is good for the University because our functions are quite related and the success of our procurement activities largely depends on the activities of the various offices related to finance.”
The Ag. Internal Auditor, Mr. Isaac Oduro Marfo, on his part, revealed that his Office’s main motive is to support the Finance Section in all that they do and to ensure they execute their duty proficiently for the advancement of UEW.
