CIMA launches Welfare Committee with inaugural health walk

By Kingsley Webora TANKEH

Close to 100 members of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Ghana have embarked on their first health walk, defying the stereotype that accountants are “boring”. This inaugural health walk was organised by the newly formed CIMA Ghana Welfare Committee, which was officially launched at the event.

Hailed by organizers, as a resounding success, the event marked a significant step towards building a stronger and more connected CIMA Ghana community.

Most importantly, the event showcased the human side of the profession. “People say accountants are boring, but we’re not. Are we boring? No!” Mrs. Yvonne Dzotsi,  a member of CIMA Ghana Welfare Committee declared to laughter and agreement. “We also like to socialise. It’s a good way for networking.”

The walk kicked off from the University of Ghana Athletes Oval to the law school through the administration block and then back to the starting point.

Speaking after the walk, the Chairman of CIMA Ghana Welfare Committee, Mr. Augustus Jojo Gaisie, expressed appreciation to the members for taking time off to take part, stating that the turnout exceeded his expectations.

With a member strength of 200, working in different fields, CIMA Ghana is a close knit professional association. However, there hasn’t been deliberate efforts to organise social gathering like this to strengthen bonds and allow members to socialise and get to know each other, until the CIMA Welfare Committee was formed.

The committee has been established to promote the well-being of members by creating a structure through which welfare needs can be addressed proactively. It seeks to provide assistance to members during significant life events, coordinate support in times of need, and foster a stronger sense of community among members.

The launch of this committee reflects CIMA Ghana’s commitment to building a professional community that goes beyond careers; one that actively supports the holistic welfare of its members.

The turnout of nearly 100 members – representing almost half of CIMA Ghana’s 200 membership – sent a powerful signal of members’ desire for connection. “We were not even expecting this number of people to come,” Mr. Gaisie admitted.

“They even exceeded the budget. But God being so good, we have been able to meet it. This shows we are not joking. We really want to come together,” he added.

Mr. Gaisie emphasized that the walk was much more than just fitness. “CIMA is a global professional organization. We thought it was very important that as members we need to know ourselves, come together to strengthen the CIMA organization and make it more vibrant.”

This need for community was echoed by Mrs. Dzotsi. She explained the genesis of the Welfare Committee: “We all came together because we were all on a platform but we didn’t know each other… unless we had functions, which was very odd.”

Inspired by the visible activities of other professional bodies like ICAG, CIMA Ghana members decided to act. “This is our very first event, hopefully more to come,” Dzotsi stated. “Our aim is to support our members, help them to come together, identify where there are problems and then help to solve those problems.”

This includes practical support like pooling funds to assist grieving families after a member’s death, supporting younger members getting married, and providing other necessary assistance in times of need.

One of the trustees of CIMA Benevolent Fund, who is also a member of the Welfare Committee, Mrs. Yvonne Dzotsi, highlighted the existence of the fund, what it stands for and who can apply for assistance. She indicated that the fund provides crucial financial support to members facing severe hardship due to job loss, illness, or other circumstances which prevent them from earning.

“We don’t get many applications from Africa in general,” Dzotsi noted, attributing this partly to cultural reliance on family support and shyness to ask for help. Mrs. Dzotsi noted that seeking help is not a weakness but rather an acknowledgment of the shared strength within the CIMA community, assuring members of confidential and impartial assessment by the Fund’s trustees.

The energy from the successful walk is already fueling future plans. Mr. Gaisie announced the next major event: an End-of-Year Get-Together scheduled for December 14th, expecting even greater attendance. “The signal that we sent will go to the other members… maybe the next event, I’m expecting more than what we have gotten today.”

Mrs. Dzotsi passionately encouraged members to volunteer for CIMA’s various committees – West Africa Area Network, Regional Panel and Global – emphasizing the value of service. “It helps. Please put yourself up and volunteer.”

The CIMA Ghana Health Walk proved more than just steps taken; it was a stride towards a more connected, supportive and vibrant professional community, firmly putting the “boring accountant” myth to rest and paving the way for a dynamic future for management accounting in Ghana.

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