West African auditors urged to harness AI for stronger accountability and economic transformation

Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) across West Africa have been urged to embrace digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to enhance public sector auditing, strengthen accountability, and drive economic transformation in the region.

This call was made at the third ECOWAS Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ECOSAI) meeting held in Accra, where experts underscored the importance of digitalisation, regional collaboration, and citizen engagement in improving transparency and governance.

Supreme audit institutions, which serve as independent agencies responsible for auditing government revenues and expenditures, were encouraged to adopt innovative tools that would enable the timely publication of audit findings, efficient expenditure tracking, and better fiscal corrections.

Mr Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, Ghana’s Auditor-General, said SAIs must view public sector auditing not only as a tool for fiscal correction but also as a driver of economic transformation.
“This is very important for us to forge forward for deeper regional integration,” he stated.

He emphasised the need for auditors to engage citizens periodically, ensure value for money in public investments, and build a united West African audit alliance capable of sharing data and best practices across borders.
“Corruption and inefficiency do not respect national borders. Therefore, our response must be equally united; we must explore AI and other applications that empower auditors and protect taxpayers,” he added.

Madam Abena Osei-Asare, Chairperson of Ghana’s Public Accounts Committee, commended SAIs for their role in promoting transparency and fighting corruption. She called for stronger partnerships with national parliaments, internal audit bodies, media organisations, and civil society groups to improve public financial performance.
“Your goal must remain clear, to advance accountability and transparency in the management of public resources at both the national and regional levels,” she said.

Mrs Diane Holo-Sacramento, Chairperson of the ECOWAS Audit Committee, stressed that accountability and transparency are the “lifeblood of sustainable development.” She warned that without decisive and collective action, the region risks deepening poverty and anti-democratic sentiments, but expressed optimism about ECOWAS countries building stronger audit systems.

The ECOSAI meeting served as a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and capacity building among SAIs to promote good governance and strengthen public financial management across the ECOWAS sub-region.