Today, the 3rd Conference of the African Association of Accountants-General (AAAG) opened in Accra, Ghana, with a unified message: Africa cannot achieve economic prosperity without bold leadership, strong institutions, and a modern public financial management (PFM) systems that citizens can trust.
More than 1500 public finance leaders, policymakers, and development partners are attending the Conference held under the theme “Africa of Tomorrow: Positioning Public Financial Management for Economic Prosperity.” The event is hosted in partnership with the Controller and Accountant-General Department, Republic of Ghana.
H.E. John Dramani Mahama, the President of the Republic of Ghana, graced the opening of the Conference and set the tone by stressing that transparency and fiscal discipline are the backbone of development. He reminded delegates that budgets only matter when they translate into real services: Schools, hospitals, roads, and jobs. He called for prudent management of public finances to accelerate Africa’s development.
AAAG acting Chairperson Dr. Shamseldeen B. Ogunjimi (PhD) pushed the conversation further. Delivering his opening speech, he argued that accountability is not an obstacle but a driver of economic growth, and that public finance must always centre on people rather than processes. He urged governments to harness technology fully, noting that artificial intelligence is already reshaping the sector.
He said: “Artificial intelligence empowers us to make evidence-based decisions, anticipate challenges before they arise, and craft solutions rooted in data rather than guesswork. AI allows governments to see clearly where every public cent goes, the impact it delivers, and how every policy can better serve our citizens.”
AAAG CEO Fredrick Riaga – FCPA, called for specific urgent actions to strengthen PFM across Africa and accelerate Africa’s growth: create youth-engagement programs in public finance, prioritize climate-responsive budget policies, and develop self-determined development plans to harness Africa’s youthful population and drive change today.
He called for youth engagement in public finance, climate-responsive budgeting, and development strategies grounded in African priorities rather than external agendas.
“The Africa of tomorrow must begin to take shape today,” he said
Ghana’s Controller and Accountant-General, Kwesi Agyei, outlined the country’s ongoing reforms to strengthen its financial governance framework. These include updates to PFM legislation, procurement reforms, internal audit improvements, and continued expansion of the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS). He announced that the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) system, which is set for rollout in early 2026, will phase out manual cheque payments and ensure that all public transactions pass through GIFMIS, boosting efficiency and auditability. He also highlighted Ghana’s steady transition to IPSAS and the gains in transparency it has produced.
Another highlight of the first day was a candid address by Pan-African scholar Prof. PLO Lumumba. He warned against dependency, complacency, and external policy influence, urging African countries to reclaim control over their economic choices. He also pointed to the rapid rise of AI, suggesting it will disrupt traditional roles in public finance and force governments to rethink how they build institutional capacity.
Over the coming days, delegates will examine issues ranging from artificial intelligence and illicit financial flows to green budgeting, debt sustainability, Next-Gen IFMIS, and the development of Africa’s PFM talent pipeline. The Conference concludes on 27 November.
