The Ashanti Regional Chapter of the Health Accountants Staff Association of Ghana (HASAG) has held its 2026 Annual Retreat with a call on the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department and government to ensure that its members receive the same legitimate motivation and welfare packages enjoyed by accountants in other government agencies.
The retreat, held under the theme:” Strengthening Financial Management, Improving Audit Performance to Improve Healthcare Delivery in Ghana”, brought together HASAG members across the Ashanti Region to share ideas and build professional capacity in financial management.
Alhaji Shamsudeen Muhammed, National President of HASAG, said the association represents all accountants and internal auditors under the Ministry of Health and its agencies.
He noted that under the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) and its regulations, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, in consultation with the Public Services Commission and the Minister of Finance, is mandated to determine the welfare of accountants in covered public sector entities.
According to him, their main challenge and appeal to the government is to look at their welfare, which borders on salaries and conditions of service.
He explained that HASAG members perform the same accounting roles as their counterparts in other public sector agencies, yet are treated differently. “It is an unfair practice that affects their motivation to put up their best and work efficiently”, he noted.
According to him, HASAG had already submitted a petition to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, reminding it of its statutory role, but yet to get any response.
He stressed that improved motivation is critical for delivering quality financial reporting and supporting the effective implementation of the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) in health facilities.
Dr. Fred Adomako, the Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), commended the accountants for their role in ensuring value for money in the health sector.
He said the retreat was important for enhancing the quality-of-service delivery through efficient management of resources in the health sector.
According to him, the mark of leadership is to build people and take care of them and expressed the view that members must question if the money they have assigned yield the results for which it was approved since expenditure must give value for money.
Dr. Adomako urged the accountants to strengthen budget discipline, move towards results-based accounting, and prepare realistic budgets.
He described auditing as “a partner for development, not an enemy of progress”, noting that strong financial management helps reduce abandoned projects.
He also encouraged HASAG members to use the retreat to share best practices that will improve healthcare outcomes. “As we invest a lot in health in fighting malaria, cholera, and in reducing new-born and maternal deaths, let us address how to link our financial inputs to these health outcomes” he said and stressed that “this is the performance matrix we need”.
Dr. Adomako called for attention to the welfare of staff beyond salaries, including medical check-ups, mental health, and support for non-communicable and communicable diseases, describing it as essential for a healthy and productive workforce.
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The post Ashanti Regional HASAG seeks recognition as it holds 2026 Annual Retreat appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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