Accounting Ethics and the Professional Accountant: The Case of Ghana

Abstract

The main objective of the study is to examine the extent to which the ethics of accounting is relevant to professional accountants. In doing so, the factors contributing to accounting fraud and the ethical challenges encountered by accountants will also be examined. The main respondents were accountants and auditors from intuitions in selected districts in the eastern region of Ghana. The study revealed that to a great extent accounting ethics is relevant to the professional accountants. However, there are challenges in adhering to ethical principles/codes of the accounting profession. The study also revealed that some factors, such as money and legalistic culture contribute to accounting fraud. It recommends that efforts aim at increasing ethical knowledge and standards at all levels should be strengthen by all stakeholders in the accounting profession.