News & Updates

The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), Ghana selected to Host the African Federation of the Institutes of Internal Auditors (AFIIA) 2023 Conference

The Governing Council of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), Ghana at the just ended 2022 African Federation of the Institute of Internal Auditors (AFIIA) Conference held in Livingstone, Zambia has received, on behalf of the IIA Ghana, the mandate to host the AFIIA 2023 Conference from May 22 - 26, 2023 in Ghana. This will be the second time IIA Ghana is hosting the event. Ghana hosted the 2017 AFIIA Conference at the Accra International Conference Centre, Ghana.

As a way of sensitising and publicising IIA Ghana’s preparedness as host of the 2023 AFIIA Conference, Mrs. Harriet Akua Karikari, the President of IIA Ghana addressed the participants during the AFIIA 2022 Conference in Zambia on three (3) different occasions. In all her deliveries, she emphasized IIA Ghana’s readiness to collaborate with AFIIA Executives to host the 2023 Conference successfully. On two of the occasions, the Ghanaian delegates gave Golden Tree chocolates randomly to participants as a way of whetting their appetite for Ghanaian chocolates and projecting Ghana’s hospitality.

At the closing ceremony on Friday, May 27, 2022, the Ghanaian delegates showcased Ghana by raising miniature national flags with chants of “Ghana Oseeyee!” before the President of IIA Ghana delivered her message. It was heartwarming to see the enthusiasm of all delegate present, and expression of willingness by the other participants to attend the 2023 AFIIA Conference in Ghana.

Image 1: IIA Ghana Council Members showcasing the Ghana Flag to Delegates

Synopsis of AFIIA 2022 Conference in Livingstone, Zambia

The 2022 Conference was held at Avani Victoria Falls Resort, Livingstone, Zambia under the theme “Surviving Turbulent Times and Rebuilding Successfully”. There was a wide representation of Africa at the 2022 Conference as delegates came mostly from African countries. There were also invited guests from America and Europe.

Representing the President of Zambia, Hon. Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, the Zambian Minister of Finance and National Planning, opened the 2022 AFIIA Conference and challenged AFIIA and IIA Zambia to propose solutions to some of the pertinent challenges in Public financial management, particularly inertia in executing programmes.

Participants comprised Mr. Anthony Pugliese (President & CEO, IIA Global), Mr. Richard Chambers (the Immediate Past President & CEO of IIA Global), Mr. Javier Faleato (Executive Vice President for Affiliate Relations and Global Advocacy), Mr. Emmanuel Johannes (AFIIA Chairman), Audit Committee Members, Board Members, Managing Directors, CEOs, Senior Management, Accounting Officers, CFOs, Members of Parliamentary Oversight Committees, Chief Audit Executives, Distinguished Speakers, Internal Auditors and interested parties.

Image 2: A picture of the Victoria Waterfalls at Livingstone, Zambia

Ghanaian Delegates/Participants

Thirty-two IIA Ghana members from Ghana physically attended the Conference. Among these were: Mrs. Harriet Akua Karikari (the President of IIA Ghana); four (4) Council Members including Mr. Daniel Quampah (the AFIIA Vice Chairman responsible for West Africa and Immediate Past President of IIA Ghana); Rev. Eric Obodai (the Administrator of IIA Ghana); and delegates from both private and public corporate organizations. In addition, ten delegates from Ghana participated virtually in the Conference.

Leaders Forum (Sunday, May 22, 2022)
A one-day leadership academy preceded the 2022 AFIIA Conference. Participants at the Leadership Academy were drawn from the IIA Global Head Quarters, AFIIA Governing Council, and Affiliate/Chapter representatives from across Africa.

Both the IIA Global and AFIIA Executives highlighted on what has been done in developing Affiliates/Chapters and promoting internal auditing.

Leaders present shared their knowledge and insights on perspectives of IIA at all levels, latest trends and best practices in internal auditing, among others.

The President of IIA Ghana, supported by Council members present tabled the major challenges facing IIA Ghana for discussion and determination of the way forward.

Image 3A: IIA Ghana Council Members in a picture with IIA Global President/CEO (3rd from left) and Executive Vice President for Affiliate Relations and Global Advocacy (extreme right)

Further to this, the IIA Ghana Council met with the AFIIA Chair to, exclusively, discuss and strategise toward the successful organization of the 2023 AFIIA Conference in Ghana. The AFIIA Chair shared his experiences with the team and tasked the AFIIA Vice-Chair responsible for West Africa to support the IIA Ghana Organizing Committee as appropriate on behalf of AFIIA.

Image 3B: IIA Ghana Council Members in a picture with the AFIIA Chair

Governance Forum (May 23 – 24, 2022)
The two (2) days Governance Forum was hybrid in nature with physical and virtual presence. It had distinguished resource persons presenting and sharing their knowledge and experiences with participants on topics listed below:

1. The role of oversight bodies in promoting sound public financial management;
2. Transforming from the inside through ESG;
3. Leadership towards transformation;
4. Role of the Board in cybersecurity privacy, digital transformation and Internal Audit modernization;
5. Role of automation in transformational risk management;
6. Responding to stakeholder expectations;
7. Disruption, innovation and future scenarios for Internal Auditing;
8. The 21st-century Audit Committee; and
9. Enhancing and protecting organizational value - the stakeholder’s perspective.

Internal Auditors Conference (May 25-27, 2022)
The main Conference spanned three (3) days from May 25 to 27, 2022. Seasoned resource persons shared their thoughts and experiences interlaced with discussions on the following topics:

1. Embracing the Future;
2. Agents of Change - Internal Auditors in an era of disruption;
3. Forensic Auditing in uncertain times;
4. The role of Internal Audit in addressing climate change;
5. Using disruption to bounce back;
6. Developing effective leaders;
7. Auditing social media; and
8. How to conduct forensic audits.

Post Event Tours - Experiencing the natural beauty of Zambia

The Ghanaian delegates, among others, had the opportunity to experience the beauty of Zambia through organised tours to various destinations during their stay in Livingstone. The tourist sites included the Victoria Falls, Livingstone Islands, Zambezi River, the Chobe National Park and Zimbabwe among others. Some delegates had the opportunity to walk with the lions at the park.

Image 4: IIA Ghana Council Members and some delegates walked with the Lions

Night of Cultural Music and Dance for Ghana Delegation To strengthen networking among Ghanaian delegates at the Conference, the IIA Ghana Council, hosted the Ghanaian delegates to a dinner on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at the Mukuni Boma Village within the enclave of Avani and Royal Livingstone Hotels. The delegates, who were joined by few friends from Botswana and Zambia, were entertained with seventeen different Zambian cultural music and dances.

GALA Night The most entertaining part of the Conference, GALA Night, was held on Thursday, May 27, 2022. Participants were entertained with contemporary music as well as Zambian traditional music and dance by the “Ngoni Warriors”. Our very own Mr. Ebenezer K. Omari-Mireku (Chair for Research and Publications) was one of the MCs for the night.

The President of IIA Ghana addressed the gathering and promised a much more thrilling AFIIA 2023 GALA night in Ghana.

Images 5/6: Delegates dancing to music during the GALA Night

Conclusion
The AFIIA 2022 Conference in Zambia was a success. The cultural and natural beauty of Livingstone was a memorable one.

Professionally, participants benefitted from varied and insightful topics that addressed current and evolving issues/events related to the Internal Audit profession, governance and risk-related matters.

As the host of the 9th AFIIA Conference in May 2023, coupled with the observations and experiences obtained from Zambia, IIA Ghana will strategically collaborate with the government and the relevant agencies for logistical assistance in the following:

1. ransportation of delegates from the airport to their respective hotels;
2. Free transportation to and from the hotels of the delegates to the Conference venue;
3. Organisation and facilitation of tourism before, during, and after the Conference;
4. Mounting of stands at the conference grounds to showcase the many products and services available in Ghana; and
5. Providing an attractive and memorable conference package for delegates.

Ghanaian delegates and all other affiliate members are encouraged to:

• Assist their respective Internal Audit functions to align their assurance and advisory services with the strategic objective of their organisations in pursuit of value creation and protection.
• Maintain the commitment towards IIA Ghana’s activities and support the Council and the AFIIA 2023 Organising Committee to effectively deliver on its mandate in ensuring positive organisation and hosting of AFIIA 2023.

Long live IIA Ghana, AFIIA and IIA Global to elevate impact on the Internal Audit profession and the entities we serve!

Compiled by
Chair, Research & Publications