Government internet financial reporting in the African Countries

• Main Authors: Yuhertiana, Indrawati, Arief, Lukman, Akbar, Fajar Syaiful, Puspitasari, Devy Sylvia, Popoola, Oluwatoyin Muse Johnson
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Science and Engineering Research Support Society 2020
• Subjects: HF5601 Accounting
• Online Access: http://repo.uum.edu.my/27221/1/IJAST%2029%205%202020%202077%202085.pdf; http://repo.uum.edu.my/27221/; http://sersc.org/journals/index.php/IJAST/article/view/10732

The paper investigates the disclosure of financial information at the government level in Africa countries. The research focuses on the accessibility of financial information or financial report in Africa and uses website content analysis on data of internet financial reporting of African countries. The study adopts 10 African countries randomly selected, and 3 websites from each country that relates to primary financial information for stakeholders, namely: the official government website, ministry of finance website and government auditor office website. The research uses the index of internet financial reporting to measure the accessibility of the data. Swaziland records the highest value of accessibility and absolute value from the three assessed websites. In contrast, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo record the least average accessibility value of 2.0 from the evaluated websites. The results show the existence of unequal accessibility values amongst the websites of study. The study claims that several countries finance department and government auditors' websites cannot be accessed on the first page of Google Search Engine. Finally, internet financial reporting (IFR) in Africa is relatively low because many countries’ results of their financial reports and the audit reports are not finalised as and when due.The study stresses the importance of African countries to adopt International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and thus improving the availability, quality and comparability of financial information that enhances the visibility of public sector entities’ activities throughout the world. Similarly, the study argues that because financial information is difficult to find and where it exists lack detailed information and thereby affecting investors’ decision making about Africa countries.