Ho, Sept. 22, GNA - Finance officers in government departments and agencies were on Wednesday reminded of the utmost need to meet the heightening citizens' demand for accountability in the management of the nation's finances.

Ms Grace Adzroe, Deputy Controller, Finance and Administration of the Controller and Accountant-General's Department, demanded that the finance officers followed the best procedural practices to ensure timely and unambiguous financial reporting at all levels. Ms Adzroe was opening a workshop on Financial Management in Ho for heads of accounts and their assistants of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the Volta Region.

Ms Adzroe said the workshop should imbue participants with the skills and attitudes to meet the challenges posed by the fiscal decentralization policy in the public sector and other on-going financial sector reforms. She urged the officers to have a thorough comprehension of these reforms including the Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).

Ms Adzroe asked the officers to tackle and control the weaknesses in the management of public funds over the years as incessantly revealed by audit reports.

Mr Moses A. Akagla, Volta Regional Director of the Controller and Accountant General's Department, said the workshop should see a more fluid reporting process to meet expectations of supervisory authorities including Parliament.

Mr Bright Konu, Volta Regional Budget Officer, who presided, said the one-day workshop should enable the officers to manage financial resources at their levels better. Topics to be treated include-Key Players and Financial Responsibilities of Public Officers, Revenue Budgeting, Banking Procedures and Bank Reconciliation, Chart of Accounts and Recording of Financial Transactions.