By Jones Anlimah
The Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG), says Ghana is steadily becoming a reference point for audit quality assurance and professional oversight across Africa.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the 2026 Accountants’ Week Celebration in Ho in the Volta Region, President of ICAG, Augustine Addo, said the country’s growing reputation in quality assurance within the accounting profession is gaining continental recognition.
“It’s gratifying to know that the Quality Assurance Director of the Institute is championing quality assurance within the African continent,” he stated.
According to him, Ghana’s quality assurance systems have attracted attention from other African countries seeking to strengthen their own professional regulatory frameworks.
“Within the past year, the Quality Assurance Director was able to receive quality assurance practitioners from about five countries in Africa who came to learn the quality assurance regime in Ghana,” he revealed.
Mr. Addo explained that through ICAG’s Accountability Practice Review system, practitioners who fail to meet professional standards are either sanctioned or assisted to improve their work.
“Those who fault in terms of meeting the standards are brought up to speed or are given the necessary sanctions to enable them to do what is right,” he noted.
He stressed that strong audit systems are essential to maintaining public confidence in financial institutions and governance structures.
“At a time when financial standards continue to shape public confidence globally, Ghana is emerging as a reference point for strengthening audit quality and professional oversight in Africa,” he said.
Mr. Addo added that the institute’s efforts are not only beneficial to accountants but also investors, government institutions, development partners and the wider public.
“We believe this should matter not only to accountants in Ghana, but also investors, government institutions, development partners and every Ghanaian citizen who deserves transparency and accountability in public and private finance,” he stated.
Chief Executive Officer of ICAG, Eric Oduro Osae, also highlighted the critical role of accountants in building credible financial systems capable of supporting sustainable economic growth.
“Building strong economies requires that financial systems underpinning them are credible, well-governed and capable of bearing scrutiny,” he said.
He further stressed that professional ethics and accountability remain indispensable to national development.
“Sustainability without integrity is mere branding. Technology without ethics is risk and accountability without courage is theatre,” Mr. Oduro Osae stated.
The 2026 Accountants’ Week Celebration is being held under the theme: “Building Sustainable Economies: Standards, Integrity and Accountability.”
The week-long programme, running from May 18 to 22 in Ho, includes conferences, professional development sessions, awards events and ICAG’s Annual General Meeting.
