ACCA Members' Reception
Over 100 ACCA members from 13 countries gathered last Thursday evening for a reception coinciding with the 6th Ecsafa Congress, held in Gaborone Botswana. Councillors Subhas Purgus and Raj Jugurnath attended the event, as well as 9 ACCA International Assembly Representatives.
Guests were welcomed by Jonathan Mbewe, President of ACCA Botswana Branch and Simon Burdett, ACCA's Head of Corporate Development for Southern Africa and wre updated on the latest figures for ACCA in Africa. ACCA now has 45000 mmbers and students in Africa, nearly double that of five years ago. Almost 15000 students have joined ACCA since the beginning of 2003, a growth rate of 15%. The milestone of 5000 students and members has been achieved in Ghana, Mauritius, Uganda and Zambia.
ACCA was the main sponsor of the Ecsafa Congress. ACCA members from more than 15 countries made up of one-third of the delegates. It was clear to all the delegates that Botswana has a vibrant and rapidly expanding economy, with high levels of development presenting excellent opportunities to ACCA, not only in expanding its base of members and students but also in contributing to the development of the profession in Botswana. ACCA has a joint examination scheme agreement with the Botswana Institute of Accountants which is this year presided over by Mr Michael Lesolle, one of the first Botswana citizens to qualify as a professional accountant. He is the immediate past president of ACCA Botswana Branch and a former member of ACCA's International Assembly.