A Professor of Finance and Accounting with the Akenten Appiah Minka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development has indicated that blaming COVID 19 for the economic doldrums Ghana finds itself is not enough.

Professor Joseph Mbawuni’s assertion comes on the back of the true state of the economy address rendered by Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia where he sought to explain the causes of Ghana’s economic hardships.

Professor Mbawuni, however, contends beyond the political rhetoric, the government owes it a duty to render a proper account of the corruption and revenue leakages that have compounded the downward spiral of Ghana’s economy.

“How did we get to where we are as a country and as a nation? When people were complaining the Vice President took time to elaborate on the state of Ghana’s economy. He kept mentioning COVID 19 because COVID 19 has contributed to where we are right now. But is that all?” he quizzed.

“In Ghana, politics and politicians help us. Unfortunately, the level of accountability that we can trust, we lack. Somebody said in Africa, the true sincere politicians never win because we vote for lies and not for truth,” he observed.

Prof. Mbawuni was addressing Graduates of the School of Graduate Studies and Research of the Christian Service University College in Kumasi where 73 students graduated with Masters Degrees in Finance and Accounting.

Addressing the partisan polarization that has infested almost every faculty of the country, he warned until Ghanaians stand up against the partisan interests and untruths peddled by politicians, the country cannot expect to develop beyond its current slow pace.

He charged the graduates, “There is corruption everywhere in this country. People should be determined that they will not be part of corruption even when they know that there is corruption where they find themselves. It will not be easy just as my friend, colleague, and mate Daniel Domelevo stated that “if you fight corruption, corruption will fight you.”

President of the Christian Service University College Prof. Samuel Afrane called for government to conduct a holistic review of the Free Senior High School Program explaining that the state could fashion out modalities to deliver the pro-poor policy without overburdening the public purse.

“A number of eminent statesmen and renowned academicians have called on government for a review of the program to improve the cost management as well as the quality of the program. I add my voice to this call and appeal so that the review process will not only ensure that the cost of the Free SHS education is manageable to the nation but that it will also produce high-quality students who will feed the tertiary institutions in Ghana and invariably, the job market,” He stated.

Prof. Afrane pointed out that the university is on course in its ambition to introduce nontraditional, demand-driven and innovative courses aimed at positioning the school as a center for hire learning and research.

He outlined that aside CSUC’s portfolio of graduate courses including an MA in Ministry and Management, the MA in Monitoring and Evaluation, and the MA in Corporate planning and governance which have won awards as being the first to be introduced in West Africa, plans were far advanced to introduce post graduate courses in Communications, English and Mathematics Education.

He further disclosed that the university was tying in the final ends towards the introduction of three new market-driven Post Graduate courses comprising MSc Digital Marketing and Channel Management; MSc Investment and Financial Risk Management and MA in Events Management.

The theme for the university’s 45th special congregation was Professionalism and Integrity, the role of finance and accounting in national development.