ABOUT ABWA

The ASSOCIATION OF ACCOUNTANCY BODIES IN WEST AFRICA (ABWA) was established in 1982 as a regional body to promote the development of the Accountancy Profession in the West African subregion. Incorporated in Nigeria in 1994 where its Corporate Headquarter is located, ABWA is an IFAC Recognised Network Partner. As an Association, it represents over 120,000 professional accountants drawn from 16 professional accountancy organisations (PAOs) in Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Togo. Consisting of Anglophone and Francophone PAOs drawn from 15 jurisdictions, ABWA’s mission is to ensure that accounting standards and practices in the sub-region are harmonized and benchmarked on global best practices and driven by the profession’s public interest mandate and high ethical standard. The Association also facilitates cooperation in the areas of accounting education, training, technical and ethical standards amongst its member-bodies.

In line with its vision of effectively leading the development of the Accountancy Profession in the West African subregion in the public interest, ABWA strives to leverage its platform and reach to enhance the contribution of the Accountancy profession to the economic development of West Africa through high quality corporate reports.

Vision
To effectively lead the development of the accountancy profession in the West African sub-region in the public interest.

Mission
To promote the growth of and strengthen the accountancy profession in West Africa such that it remains a valued partner in the building of strong, sustainable organisations and financial markets for the development of sub-region’s economy while acting in the public interest.

Objectives

• To develop and enhance the accountancy profession in West Africa;
• To promote the development of common technical and educational guidelines, code of ethics and professional standards in member bodies;
• To act as a centre for the development and dissemination of
  information concerning accountancy standards and practices in West Africa;
• To provide encouragement for and assistance with the formation
  and development of national accountancy bodies in West Africa;
• To provide advice on and participate in the programme of work of IFAC and to adopt and publish to its members, IFAC’s guidelines, statements and studies;
• To provide advice on and participate and/or collaborate in the
  programme of work and activities of recognized regional organizations, international or development agencies for the promotion of the accountancy profession;
• To provide a forum for the professional development of member
  bodies through seminars, symposia, conferences and congresses
  and interchange of ideas and experiences;
• To provide technical assistance to regional governments whose PAOs are members of ABWA in the Public Financial Management Reform process
• To develop, promote the criteria and procedures for mutual recognition of professional accountancy qualifications that will facilitate movement of professional accountants within the member states of the ECOWAS region.