Prof. John Gatsi lectures 2023 graduating class of “Chartered Institute of Taxation Ghana

The Economist and Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Prof. John Gatsi has lectured the 2023 graduating class on the topic “Chartered Institute of Taxation Ghana.”

The speech was delivered to the 2023 graduating class of the Institute on the topic “Professional conduct and the role of members in protecting and promoting the image of the Chartered Institute of Taxation Ghana.”

According to the lecture, Prof. Gatsi explained that members of the tax profession must imbibe the code of conduct and maintain commitment at all levels. The purpose of a professional code of conduct is to define behaviours and moral principles for practitioners to practice with everyday consciousness of objectivity, honesty, integrity, and commitment to confidentiality.

He clarified that no other profession is allowed to practice as a tax practitioner or firm unless the person or firm is registered as a member of the Institute per section 12 of Act 916.
This called for all members to jealously ensure that only members practice.

Further in the delivery, Prof. Gatsi advised that members should place trust in the tax practitioner by their clients, Ghana Revenue Authority, the regulators, and other stakeholders and this must not be taken for granted.

In addition, he said, the responsibility for ethical and professional behaviour must be taken seriously by all practitioners within the tax profession irrespective of the years in practice.
All of you must be committed to upholding and maintaining the reputation to sustain public trust, he advised.

He also admonished them that complying with ethical rules and professional conduct will not be painless and that sometimes it may even cost them but this is the profession you have signed on to which demands daily consciousness.

He went further to talk deeply about professional misconduct where he listed the following but not exhaustive.

Professional misconduct listed by Prof. John Gatsi

A person engages in professional misconduct if the person is not guided by or is not committed to the ethics of the tax profession.

Disclosing information acquired in the course of professional engagement to another person without the consent of the client.

Making paid advertisements in the media(touting).

Soliciting clients or professional work.

Gross negligence of professional duty.

Expressing professional opinion not based on sufficient information.

Failing to keep the moneys of a client in a separate bank account or using clients’ money for purposes not agreed on.

Submitting false returns and statements to the Council of the Institute.

Allowing a person who is not a Chartered tax practitioner to practice in one’s name.

Prof. Gatsi spent considerable time on conflict of interest as the requirement of law that at any given time conflict of interest should be disclosed and such disclosures are to be recorded in a conflict-of-interest register, He said while it is generally advisable to avoid inducement and gifts, it is appropriate for professional bodies and organizations to develop gift policies as some may want to place a premium on the value, type, and material involve and others may just want to discourage gifts in any form.

Lecturing on the duty of practitioners, he (Prof. Gatsi) said practitioners must pay dues and participate in the activities and programs of the Institute and that the practitioners and other membership categories will develop the profession by ensuring the following:

Do not engage in a conduct, either professional or personal, which would bring the tax profession or the Institute into disrepute.

Do not accept inducements or gifts.

Do not allow offers of hospitality, pleasure, or those with vested interests to influence, or be perceived to influence your professional decisions.

Be conscious of the fact that your behaviour outside your professional life may have an effect on how you are perceived as a professional.

He encouraged the participants about ways to promote the brand of the Institute through the following:

Adhering to the professional and ethical code of conduct of the Institute.

Serving clients diligently and with the utmost efficient service.

• Contributing to policy framing.

• Publishing in the newsletter and or journal of the Institute.

• Participating in the programs of the Institute.

• Helping the Institute to collaborate with academia.

• Participating in national programs related to taxation.

• Avoid dealing with clients on the basis of politics, ethnicity, religion, and other forms of discrimination.

• Embracing data literacy, report writing, and data analytics skills.

• Embracing the emerging issues of climate change, ESG, and digital taxation.

• Be open and demonstrate multicultural skills.

• Be a professional who reads because a lot is happening in your profession globally.

• Avoid bringing the name of the Institute into public disrepute.

Conclusion

In conclusion, he explained that upon obtaining membership and registration, a person is bound by the rules of professional conduct and must therefore adhere to demands of proper conduct.

He said the relevance of a professional body is about to be discredited if professional ethics and conduct is not prioritized.

Prof. Gatsi warned of chaos if these requirements are applied selectively to members. He charged them to promote the profession through good customer care and excellent professional service.

Members were encouraged to develop the profession through the publication of practitioners’ series and in academic journals. He asked the Institute to promote a tax journal that follows proper journal management protocols to make it attractive nationally and globally.

Above all, he added that the Institute should create platforms for members to promote the CITG brand through innovation.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh