Charter of the
Association of Government Accounts Organizations of Asia (AGAOA)
WHEREAS it is recognized that there is a need to promote professional understanding and technical cooperation in the Asian region among Government Accounts Organizations at the national level.
WHEREAS there is growing awareness on the need to fortify and strengthen the respective Government Accounts Offices within the Asian region through training research and continuing education.
WHEREAS, the above aspirations can be effectively realized by the establishment of a regional Association of Government Accounts Offices at the National Level
NOW THEREFORE, be it accepted that there shall be established a regional organization of Government Accounts Offices at the national level, hereinafter called the Association of Government Accounts Organizations of Asia (AGAOA)
The objectives of the AGAOA shall include the following:
1. To promote professional understanding and technical cooperation among member-institutions through exchange of ideas and experiences in the fields covered by Government Accounts Organizations to ensure transparency accountability and good governance.
2. To facilitate research, training and continuing education and human resource development with a view to improving the quality of performance.
3. To promote closer collaboration among government accountants in the region.
4. To serve as a centre of information and foster links with other Organizations and institutions in other parts of the world in the field of Public Accounts and
5. To harmonize accounting practices using international standards.
The functions of AGAOA shall include the following:
1. To promote and encourage in the implementation of internationally accepted best practices and standards in accounting and related fields through interaction with other professional accounting institutions
2. To develop and promote accounting standards in Government, adapted to the requirements of member countries.
3. To enable the exchange of ideas and experiences in the field of Government Accounts through conferences, seminars and workshops.
4. To encourage and promote, research and training in Public Financial Management.
5. To undertake publication and dissemination of research papers and professional articles in government accounting and related fields and
6. To promote professionalism among government accountants.
Section 1. The membership of the AGAOA shall consist of Founder Members and Members
Section 2. Founder Members are the signatories of this Charter.
Section 3. Members shall be the Government Accounts Organizations at the National Level of the Asian countries, which, after the creation of AGAOA are admitted to it
Section 4. Membership shall cease upon withdrawal by a member institution, which shall take effect at the end of six months from the date of notification of withdrawal served to the Governing Board.
Section 1 The organizational structure shall be
a) The Assembly
b) The Governing Board
c) The Secretariat and
d) The Audit Committee
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Section 1 |
The Assembly shall consist of all founder members and members who shall be represented by the Heads of the Government Accounts Offices ore representatives duly authorized by them.
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Section 2 |
The assembly shall have the following powers and duties.
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a) To formulate such policies and approve manuals and standards as may be deemed necessary to meet the objectives of the Organization
b) To appoint the Chairperson who shall be Head of the Government Accounts Organization of the host country for a period of two years.
c) To elect from among themselves members of the Governing Board.
d) To elect from among themselves two members who care not on the Governing Board to constitute an Audit Committee
e) To decide the theme for the Assembly and
f) To lay down policies and procedures of business of the Assembly and other bodies of the Organization.
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Section 3 |
At meetings of the Assembly, each founder member and member shall have one vote.
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Section 4 |
The Assembly shall meet in regular sessions at lease annually and may also meet in special sessions at the unanimous request of the Governing Board or a majority of all founder members and the members.
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Section 5 |
A simple majority of the total membership shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Assembly.
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Section 6 |
The decisions of the Assembly shall be made by simple majority of the founder members and members present and voting.
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Section 1 |
The Governing Board shall be the executive arm of the Organization and shall consist of five (5) members to be determined as follows:
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a) The Head of the Governing Board who shall be the Chief Executive, shall be the representative of the Government Accounts Office where the last regular Assembly was held and shall hold office for two years.
b) There shall be four other members who shall be elected by the Assembly.
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Section 2 |
The Governing Board shall execute and implement policies in accordance with the objective of the Association and may appoint committees for specific purposes and projects.
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Section 3 |
The Governing Board shall render a report of its activities at every meeting of the Assembly.
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Section 4 |
The Governing Board shall meet at lease once a year.
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Section 1 |
The Secretariat shall be headed by the Head of the Governing Board who will be designated as Secretary General.
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Section 2 |
The Secretariat shall perform administrative and financial functions that shall include:
a) Secretarial assistance for day to day functioning of the AGAOA
b) The maintenance of all accounts, records and files,
c) The dissemination of necessary information by providing continuing contract among Government Accounts Offices of member countries.
d) Publication of an Accounting Information Journal for circulation among member countries.
e) Preparation and submission of the statements of accounts for audit not later than three months after the close of each financial year.
f) The performance of other related functions that may be assigned to it and
g) Preparation of agenda papers for the Governing Board and Assembly.
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Section 1 |
The Financial year for AGAOA shall be the calendar year.
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Section 2 |
The annual budget of AGAOA shall be prepared by the Secretary General and shall be submitted by him to the Assembly after its having been approved by the Governing Board.
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Section 3 |
Each member shall pay to AGAOA the following
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Section 1 |
The Audit Committee shall cause audit of the accounts of AGAOA annually and shall render a report to the Assembly not later than three months after the close of that period. |
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Section 1 |
This charter may be amended by a vote of 2/3 of the total membership of AGAOA at any regular meeting of the Assembly, or at a special meeting called for such purposes provided that notice to such meeting containing the proposed amendments shall be served to the members at the least three months before the meeting.
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Section 1 |
This charter shall come into force when the ratifications are deposited by at lease 2/3 of the government Accounts Offices, which are signatories of this Charter.
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ARTICLE XII – TRANSITORY PROVISION
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Section 1 |
For the period till this carter can come into force and the first session of the Assembly is held, we the signatories of this Charter, designate the Director General, Department of State Accounts of the Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka to coordinate and take all the necessary action.
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Any Founder Member may withdraw from this Charter at any time after its entry into force. Such withdrawal shall be effective on expiry of six months from the date on which a written notice thereof is received by the Secretary General of the Assembly. The Founder Member shall simultaneously inform the Secretariat of the action it has taken.
The rights and obligations of a Founder Member which has withdrawn from this Agreement shall cease to apply as of the effective date.
ARTICLE XIV – DECLARATION AND AFFIRMATION
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned being duly authorized thereto by their respective Founder Members have signed this Charter.
DONE in Kandy Historic City of Sri Lanka on this Twenty Fifth Day of February, Two Thousand and Four in Eight (08) Originals in English Language. All texts being equally authentic.
SIGNATORIES
1. Mr. Faruque M Siddiqui
Controller General of Accounts
Bangladesh
2. Mr. Sonam Wangchuk
Director, Department of Budget and Accounts
Bhutan
3. Mrs. Aruna Makhan
Controller General of Accounts
India.
4. Mr. Mohamed Ahmed
Director General, Ministry of Finance and Treasury
Maldives
5. U. Saw Maung Hla
Director General, Budget Department
Ministry of Finance and Revenue
Myanmar
6. Mr. Bal Gopal Sigdel
Financial Comptroller General
Nepal
7. Mr. Fazal-ur-Rehman
Controller General of Accounts
Pakistan
8. Mr. N. Warusawitharana
Director General of State Accounts
Sri Lanka.