Independence, objectivity and integrity compliance by public sector internal auditors in Ghana: evidence from Ashanti Region
by Felix Kwame Aveh; Dadson Awunyo-Vitor; Richard Owusu Afriyie
International Journal of Critical Accounting (IJCA), Vol. 8, No. 5/6, 2016

Abstract: This study seeks to assess factors that influence public internal auditors' compliance with the principles of independence, objectivity and integrity. Data was collected from 180 sampled internal auditors in public institutions in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. A questionnaire was used to solicit information and data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics and logit regression model were used to analyse the data. The results revealed that not all the respondents understand their roles with regards to ensuring information security and regulatory compliance of their organisations. One major threat to code of ethic compliance is the auditing of departments that take decisions on internal auditor's salary. Based on the logit regression, knowledge and perceived severity of penalty as well as top management support have a positive effect on compliance decisions. Thus to ensure that internal auditors' compliance with the principles of independence, objectivity and integrity the internal auditors need to be educated on their roles and responsibilities, as well as the penalty for non-compliance. Organisations should appoint an independent entity to review the work of internal auditors, and the top management should be encouraged to support the internal audit department in performance of their duties.

Online publication date: Wed, 18-Jan-2017

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Critical Accounting (IJCA):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com