ACCA's international Assembly has had its annual binge on 22-23 September 2000. It may have made some people feel important but the meeting was conspicuous by absence of any discussions about democracy, accountability of the leadership, value for money and failure of ACCA to secure international recognition for its qualifications.

The Assembly costs around £100,000 a year to run. Its membership is not entirely elected as the leadership puts in its nominees. Most members do not identify with the Assembly and less than 1% bother to vote for it. The leadership has failed to publish details of the votes secured by each candidate.

AABA urges ACCA members not to support the present members of the Assembly. Many of these come from outside the UK. They should be encouraging local autonomy and pride but are instead active participants in new colonialism where control rests with a small clique in London (no person from outside the UK has ever been an ACCA officeholder, director or chief executive). Rather than encouraging pride and freedom to develop the kind of social infrastructure that developing countries so badly need, these people are encouraging dependency upon the UK.

ACCA members should reject the new colonialism that is taking root at ACCA.