
By Buertey Francis BORYOR
Members of Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG) have been charged to uphold the highest standards of integrity and transparency in their professional duties.
The call was made at the 2025 Presidential Luncheon, where the institute’s president, Augustine Addo, emphasised the pivotal role accountants play in safeguarding public resources and ensuring financial discipline.
He challenged them to be agents of ethical change in a rapidly changing and tech-driven world.
“There is a need for ‘ethical revolution’ to restore public trust in financial management and corporate governance. As practitioners and stakeholders, I will urge you to be champions of honesty, fairness and professionalism in both the public and private sectors. Integrity is not just a corporate slogan, but a fundamental way of life for professional accountants.
“When leadership compromises integrity, innovation becomes wretched, and compliance becomes impossible; but when leadership stands on principles, innovation becomes purposeful and compliance becomes natural,” he elaborated.
To ensure ethical standards and compliance are met, the institute has launched an aggressive multi-pronged partnership with security agencies to clamp down on unethical behaviour among accounting personnel, as well as established a robust disciplinary committee to address professional misconduct.
Additionally, it has established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Committee to integrate cutting-edge technological solutions, positioning itself as a future-defining institution rather than merely a future-ready entity.
Also, Addo said that the institute has made significant moves toward innovations, which include implementing online examinations for professional certification and introducing contemporary courses that reflect the evolving professional landscape.
“New curriculum offerings such as Forensic Analytics, Fraud Analysis, Sustainable Finance, and Climate Finance demonstrate ICAG’s commitment to preparing accountants for complex modern challenges,” he added.
Furthermore, he noted that the institute has garnered international attention, with professional bodies across Africa studying its framework. This global recognition, he said, validates ICAG’s innovative strategies and commitment to excellence.
The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Anthony Sarpong, also called on accounting professionals to be transformative agents of change, emphasising integrity as the fundamental pillar of professional excellence. “Integrity is the consistency between what is said and what is done, a principle he believes goes beyond mere words to encompass actions that align with core values and ethical standards,” he said.
He highlighted self-discipline, building robust support systems and collaboration as three critical strategies for maintaining professional integrity.
Moreover, he urged professionals to create networks that can sustain ethical practices even in challenging environments.
The event was on the theme ‘Tone at the top: Leading with integrity, innovation and compliance.’
The post ICAG members charged to lead with integrity appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.
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