Africa Virtual Public Sector Conference 2023: My highlights

A few weeks ago ACCA held a virtual conference under the theme ‘Transforming the?public?sector: accounting for a better world.’ Various stakeholders in the field shared their views and experiences on effectively transforming the sector.

Speakers?included the following:

• Audrey Naa Dei Kotey FCCA, ESQ, chairperson, ACCA Network Panel, Ghana, managing partner of AudreyGrey
• Hikmet Abdella, director general, Accounting and Auditing Board, Ethiopia?
• Dr Benson Okundi, partner and director, PWC Kenya
• Iheanyi Anyahara PhD, FCA, director, Financial Reporting Council, Nigeria
• Susiku I Nasinda, finance manager, Rural Electrification Authority, Zambia
• Evans Mulera, chief executive officer,?African?Professionalisation Initiative, Kenya
• Sanjay Rughani, chief executive officer, Standard Chartered Bank, Uganda
• Maame Yaa Tiwa Addo Danquah, commissioner of police, executive director, Economic and Organised Crime Office, Ghana
• Kamal Raj Sadien FCCA, MIPA(M), consultant, Mauritius?Institute of Professional Accountants
• Alta Prinsloo, chief executive officer, Pan?African?Federation of Accountants, South?Africa
• Shibeshi Bettemariam, secretary general, Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations
• Bockarie Kalokoh BSc, MBA, deputy minister of finance, Republic of Sierra Leone; as well as a?host of other distinguished professionals.

In addition to empowering the lives of women, and as a curious learner I also love to share what I learn with others. As a result, I've compiled a list of seven quotes from various presenters at the Africa Virtual Public Sector Conference, which was held on March 30, 2023.

1. Setting norms for ethics and incorporating it into the culture of any organisation is critical. Setting standards without ethics might be ineffective.?
2. Ethics training should be made mandatory for all professional accountants (both public and private) to be equipped to tackle corruption.
3. Theoretical ethical training alone would be insufficient. Ethical professionals should be recognized and celebrated to empower others to do the right thing.
4. Aside harmonisation, Professional Accounting Organisations (PAOs) must have the relevant skills to adapt to the everchanging environment. Key skills accountants should look at developing include accounting for green finance, acquiring knowledge of the local and global economy and innovative financing and many others.
5. Accountants should not overlook the importance of their involvement in shaping organizational culture.
6. The world is getting complex and accountants are the best people to manage the complexities.
7. Accountants should cultivate a lifelong curiosity for learning.

You can listen to the full recording of the event here https://fb.watch/jCKQnagadC/

For further reading (Research reports the discussions were based on)

• ACCA, PAFA and PwC:?State of the Accountancy Profession in Africa
• ACCA and IFAC:?A global guide for professionalisation in the public sector ?
• ACCA, PAFA:?Journey to AU2063:?Professional accountants empowering the AfCFTA .