The Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG) says strengthening ethical training, enforcing strict disciplinary measures and promoting transparent institutional cultures are critical to tackling financial misconduct within organisations.
President of ICAG, Mr. Augustine Addo, said although professional training places strong emphasis on ethics and integrity, workplace environments and weak institutional systems could also influence unethical behaviour.
Speaking to journalists after a media engagement at the opening of the 2026 Annual Conference of ICAG in Ho, Mr. Addo addressed growing public concerns over financial misappropriation cases involving individuals described as accountants.
He explained that ethics remained a central part of the Institute’s professional training programme for chartered accountants.
“When we admit students into the profession, they come from different backgrounds and we cannot immediately determine who is ethical or unethical,” he said.
According to him, students pursuing chartered accountancy undertake 14 professional subjects, all of which incorporate ethics and professional conduct components aimed at building integrity within the profession.
However, he noted that professional training alone could not permanently guarantee ethical behaviour throughout a person’s career.
“Even after the training, it does not automatically guarantee that someone will behave ethically throughout their career,” he stated.
Mr. Addo said organisational culture and work environments also play major roles in shaping the conduct of professionals.
“Sometimes people become thieves because of circumstances and the environment they find themselves in. That is why employers must create conducive and transparent working environments,” he added.
He disclosed that ICAG regularly organises continuous professional development programmes to reinforce ethical standards and professional accountability among members.
The Institute, he said, also maintains a strict disciplinary regime to investigate and sanction members found guilty of unethical conduct or professional misconduct.
“If any member is found to have acted unethically, the person is taken through a disciplinary process, and where necessary sanctions are applied,” he explained.
Mr. Addo revealed that some members had previously lost their practising licences, while others had faced suspensions, penalties and formal reprimands for misconduct.
He further noted that ICAG operates audit quality assurance and monitoring systems to evaluate the performance and professional conduct of accountants working in practice and business institutions.
According to him, many individuals publicly linked to financial misconduct cases are often not chartered accountants recognised by the Institute.
“In the last five years, most of the cases we investigated involved people bearing the title accountant but who were not members of ICAG,” he said.
Mr. Addo described professional accountants as critical safeguards within institutions because they help prevent financial leakages and protect organisational resources.
“If someone wants to embezzle money in an organisation, the accountant becomes the last line of defence before the money leaves the system,” he stated.
He encouraged accountants to uphold strong ethical principles and resist attempts to compromise their professional responsibilities.
Mr. Addo also disclosed that ICAG had established a support desk at its secretariat to assist members who may face victimisation for resisting corruption or exposing wrongdoing within organisations.
“If you are victimised for doing the right thing, the Institute will support you through our legal structures and professional systems,” he assured.
He stressed, however, that the Institute would not protect any member found guilty of corruption or financial misconduct.
Mr. Addo reaffirmed ICAG’s commitment to promoting professionalism, accountability and integrity within Ghana’s accounting profession and urged members to uphold high ethical standards in both public and private institutions.
