ACADEMICS’ NON-ADHERENCE TO ACCOUNTING ETHICS IN GHANAIAN UNIVERSITIES: INTERNAL EVIDENCE OF THE ANTECEDENTS

Emmanuel Bismark Amponsah; Peter A Boateng; Luke Onuoha

Emmanuel Bismark Amponsah, Dr Valley View University
Peter A Boateng, Dr Va
Luke Onuoha, Prof. Babcock University

Keywords: Non-adherence, code of ethics, antecedents, accounting academics

Abstract

The role of the teacher as an example and in the training of others to be ethical needs immersed attention due to the recent perceived collapse of ethical behaviour among accountants. The substantive objective of this study therefore was to determine the factors that contribute to non-adherence to accounting ethics by accounting academics in Ghana. Twenty-five causes of non-adherence to accounting ethics by accounting academics in the study area were examined. Survey data collected from 80 Accounting teachers teaching at the undergraduate level were analysed using factor analysis (screen plot, total variance explained, and rotated component matrix). Per respondents’ views, lack of commitment to the organisation’s interest, lack of job satisfaction, insufficient internal controls, and laxity in rules and regulations enforcement are the most overwhelming causes of non-adherence to accounting ethics in the area of study. These precursors, generally emanating from self-seeking and management ills, do not appear to fit passably into all the categories of threats addressed in Section 10.1 (a) to (e) of the IFAC Code of Ethics. Institutions and management, accountancy training institutions and organisations should provide policies, programmes, practices and activities that are capable of obviating the underlying antecedents.

Author Biographies

Emmanuel Bismark Amponsah, Dr, Valley View University

The role of the teacher as an example and in the training of others to be ethical needs immersed attention due to the recent perceived collapse of ethical behaviour among accountants. The substantive objective of this study therefore was to determine the factors that contribute to non-adherence to accounting ethics by accounting academics in Ghana. Twenty-five causes of non-adherence to accounting ethics by accounting academics in the study area were examined. Survey data collected from 80 Accounting teachers teaching at the undergraduate level were analysed using factor analysis (screen plot, total variance explained, and rotated component matrix). Per respondents’ views, lack of commitment to the organisation’s interest, lack of job satisfaction, insufficient internal controls, and laxity in rules and regulations enforcement are the most overwhelming causes of non-adherence to accounting ethics in the area of study. These precursors, generally emanating from self-seeking and management ills, do not appear to fit passably into all the categories of threats addressed in Section 10.1 (a) to (e) of the IFAC Code of Ethics. Institutions and management, accountancy training institutions and organisations should provide policies, programmes, practices and activities that are capable of obviating the underlying antecedents.

Peter A Boateng, Dr, Va

School of Business
Valley View University

Luke Onuoha, Prof., Babcock University

The role of the teacher as an example and in the training of others to be ethical needs immersed attention due to the recent perceived collapse of ethical behaviour among accountants. The substantive objective of this study therefore was to determine the factors that contribute to non-adherence to accounting ethics by accounting academics in Ghana. Twenty-five causes of non-adherence to accounting ethics by accounting academics in the study area were examined. Survey data collected from 80 Accounting teachers teaching at the undergraduate level were analysed using factor analysis (screen plot, total variance explained, and rotated component matrix). Per respondents’ views, lack of commitment to the organisation’s interest, lack of job satisfaction, insufficient internal controls, and laxity in rules and regulations enforcement are the most overwhelming causes of non-adherence to accounting ethics in the area of study. These precursors, generally emanating from self-seeking and management ills, do not appear to fit passably into all the categories of threats addressed in Section 10.1 (a) to (e) of the IFAC Code of Ethics. Institutions and management, accountancy training institutions and organisations should provide policies, programmes, practices and activities that are capable of obviating the underlying antecedents.