African accountants urged to drive continent's sustainable transformation through innovation

KIGALI, May 9 (Xinhua) -- African accountants have been urged to innovate and cooperate to drive sustainable economic, social and environmental transformation across the continent.

"We must reimagine our role as accountants, not simply as technical professionals, but as catalysts for inclusive sustainable development," Keto Kayemba, outgoing president of the Pan African Federation of Accountants, said on Thursday during the Africa Congress of Accountants 2025 held in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.

Over 2,000 delegates, including accounting and finance leaders from across the continent, attended the four-day event, which started on Tuesday under the theme "Creating Value for Africa."

Jean Bouquot, president of the International Federation of Accountants, emphasized the growing need for non-financial reporting in sustainability and decision-making.

"Investors and lenders require accurate sustainability information to make informed decisions that align with long-term goals," he said.

Rwandan Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Yusuf Murangwa noted that accountants have a unique role in helping Africa generate, assess, and safeguard value, by promoting transparency, accountability, and sustainability across public and private sectors.

The forum was hosted by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda in partnership with the Pan African Federation of Accountants. It focuses on reshaping the future of accountancy and exploring strategies to drive innovation, strengthen collaboration, and advance sustainable economic and environmental value across Africa to shape the future of the profession. ■