Ordre National des Experts-Comptables et des Comptables Agréés du Togo

As of 2017, regional regulation issued by the Organisation for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) requires professional accountancy organizations in member states to establish and implement a quality assurance review system. At the national level, the Ordre National des Experts-Comptables et des Comptables Agréés du Togo (ONECCA-Togo), under the national legal framework, has played a leading role in promoting the development of a quality assurance review system for its members.

Publicly available information indicates that ONECCA-Togo undertook a number of concrete actions to support implementation. With technical assistance from a World Bank consultant, the institute conducted a quality assurance review mission, organized information sessions for members, trained volunteer members through review and training programs, and launched a pilot process for volunteer firms. These activities helped develop local review capacity, including the qualification of two members to conduct quality reviews.

ONECCA-Togo also reports that it incorporated quality assurance review requirements and International Standard on Quality Control 1 (ISQC 1) into its bylaws and operational framework, and between 2017 and 2020 assisted member firms in undergoing mandatory quality control reviews carried out by its qualified reviewers. More recently, the institute has provided training to members on International Standard on Quality Management 1 (ISQM 1), International Standard on Quality Management 2 (ISQM 2), and International Standard on Auditing 220 (Revised) (ISA 220 (Revised)), and it continues to advocate for adoption of the quality management standards at the regional level.

At the same time, available information indicates that the quality assurance review system at the jurisdiction level is not yet fully aligned with Statement of Membership Obligations 1 (SMO 1). The review cycle was postponed in 2021, and ONECCA-Togo has indicated that it intends to establish a permanent review team and procedures aligned with SMO 1. In addition, currently available information does not demonstrate that the system is fully operational on a continuing basis for all mandatory audits or that all core elements of SMO 1 are in place, including a regular inspection cycle, permanent operational arrangements, and full linkage with investigative and disciplinary processes.

The institute has taken meaningful steps to establish and support the quality assurance review system and to help members prepare for implementation, but the system is not yet fully aligned with SMO 1 requirements at the jurisdiction level.

Going forward, ONECCA-Togo should focus on supporting full operationalization of a sustainable review system aligned with SMO 1, including a regular review cycle covering mandatory audits, permanent review arrangements, stronger linkage with disciplinary processes, and continued support for the adoption and implementation of quality management standards.

Current Status: Execute

With initial professional development (IPD) requirements established at the regional level by the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), the Ordre National des Experts-Comptables et des Comptables Agréés du Togo (ONECCA-Togo) supports implementation of the regional education framework and is responsible for establishing continuing professional development (CPD) requirements for its members. At the national level, the institute continues to work with education providers and relevant ministries to strengthen alignment of national educational programs with the International Education Standards (IES).

With support from the World Bank, Togo undertook reforms to its accounting and finance education programs, including revision of curricula and capacity building for teaching staff. Publicly available sources indicate that these reforms included support for curriculum modernization, training of instructors, and strengthening of professional education pathways. ONECCA-Togo has continued to work with universities and other stakeholders to promote understanding of the regional qualification pathway leading to the Diplôme d’Expertise Comptable et Financière (DECOFI), which remains the professional qualification required for statutory audit services within WAEMU member states.

To support aspiring professional accountants, ONECCA-Togo continues to provide training and preparatory support for candidates pursuing the regional professional qualification. The institute also supports members’ continuing professional development and reports that members are required to complete 120 hours of CPD over a three-year period. In addition, the institute provides training on technical developments affecting the profession, including accounting, auditing, ethics, taxation, public sector accounting, and legal and regulatory updates.

These activities demonstrate continued efforts by the institute to support both entry into the profession and ongoing competence development of members. However, while the regional and national framework includes key elements consistent with earlier versions of the IES, the currently available information does not demonstrate full alignment with all requirements of the 2019 International Education Standards, particularly the learning-outcomes approach applicable to initial professional development and assessment.

The institute should continue working with universities, the Ministry of Secondary Technical and Professional Training, and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to conduct a comprehensive review of the jurisdiction’s education requirements against the 2019 IES and develop specific actions and timelines to address any identified gaps, particularly in relation to learning outcomes, practical experience documentation, assessment, and continuing professional development requirements.

Current Status: Execute

In June 2017, the Organisation for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) issued Regulation No. 01/2017/CM/OHADA Pratiques Professionnelles de la Comptabilité et de l’Audit dans les pays membres de l’OHADA to harmonize regional auditing standards with international best practice. The regulation states that, effective January 1, 2018, all audits in member states, including Togo, must be conducted in accordance with the International Standards on Auditing (ISA) as issued by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB).

Prior to the regional adoption of ISA, the Ordre National des Experts-Comptables et des Comptables Agréés du Togo (ONECCA-Togo) had already demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting implementation of international auditing standards. The institute reports that it collaborated with CPA Canada beginning in 2013 to provide members with French translations of IAASB pronouncements, exposure drafts, and technical guidance. In 2014, ONECCA-Togo had also adopted ISA as issued by the IAASB as a requirement for its members and advocated for their formal adoption at the national level.

Following the OHADA regulatory decision, ONECCA-Togo undertook a series of member support activities to facilitate implementation of the regional requirements. Between 2018 and 2019, the institute organized education and training sessions to raise awareness of the new OHADA regulation and to support implementation of specific standards, including International Standard on Auditing 540 (ISA 540), International Standard on Auditing 560 (ISA 560), and International Standard on Auditing 570 (ISA 570). The institute also reports that it maintains an ongoing process of updating its educational and training materials to reflect new and amended IAASB standards and continues to inform members of the latest developments.

Accordingly, ONECCA-Togo has demonstrated sustained efforts to support the adoption and implementation of ISA in the jurisdiction and to assist members in applying current standards in practice. Its fulfillment of SMO 3 is therefore assessed as Sustain.

Current Status: Sustain

In June 2017, the Organisation for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) issued Regulation No. 01/2017/CM/OHADA Pratiques Professionnelles de la Comptabilité et de l’Audit dans les pays membres de l’OHADA to harmonize regional ethical requirements with international best practice. The regulation states that, effective January 1, 2018, professional accountants in OHADA member states must adhere to the OHADA Code of Ethics, which is based on the 2015 International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants and complemented by the ethical requirements applicable to statutory auditors under the OHADA legal framework.

Prior to the issuance of the OHADA regulation, the Ordre National des Experts-Comptables et des Comptables Agréés du Togo (ONECCA-Togo), acting under Law No. 2001-001, had revised its own Code of Ethics to align with the 2012 International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants. All professional accountants in Togo are required to comply with the applicable ethical requirements under both the national and regional framework.

As part of its self-regulatory and best endeavor activities, ONECCA-Togo reports that it established a committee dedicated to monitoring Statement of Membership Obligations 4 (SMO 4) and reviewing its bylaws, Code of Ethics, and constitutional documents to support alignment with the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards). The institute also reports that it disseminates the French translation of the Code to members, trainees, accountants in business, and other relevant stakeholders and regularly delivers ethics-related training and continuing professional development sessions.

Although the latest version of the international code has not yet been adopted in the jurisdiction, ONECCA-Togo reports that it has proactively delivered training and continuing professional development events on the restructured 2018 International Code of Ethics, including the provisions on non-compliance with laws and regulations (NOCLAR), and has also introduced training on anti-money laundering requirements.

Accordingly, ONECCA-Togo has demonstrated meaningful efforts within its national scope of responsibility to support implementation of ethical requirements and to keep members informed of developments in the international code. However, because the jurisdiction-level framework remains based on the 2015 version through the OHADA regulation and the latest international code has not yet been adopted, fulfillment of SMO 4 is assessed as Execute.

Going forward, ONECCA-Togo should continue to support review and implementation of the latest International Code at the national level and continue its advisory and advocacy role with OHADA to promote updating the regional ethical framework to align with the most recent version of the code.

Current Status: Execute

ONECCA-Togo has no direct responsibility for the adoption of public sector accounting standards, which are established at the regional level by the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) public financial management framework and implemented nationally through the Ministry of Economy and Finance. While International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) have not been adopted in Togo, the institute continues to actively promote their adoption and implementation at both the national and regional levels.

The institute reports that it has worked with national public sector stakeholders, including the State Inspectorate General, the National Accounting Council, and development partners, to support public financial management reforms and to advocate for stronger alignment with IPSAS-based reporting practices. ONECCA-Togo also continues to provide education and training sessions for members and relevant stakeholders on the WAEMU public sector accounting framework and IPSAS-related developments.

At the regional level, ONECCA-Togo has demonstrated sustained leadership in public sector reform initiatives through its active participation in the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) public sector activities. Notably, the institute hosted the 3rd PAFA conference on Public Financial Management Reforms in Lomé in 2022 and participated in the 4th conference in Algiers in 2024. In addition, Togo has been selected as a pilot country for the implementation of the PAFA Public Sector Engagement Framework, and ONECCA-Togo is actively supporting this initiative. Recent PAFA reports specifically identify Togo as one of the countries currently implementing the framework.

Accordingly, ONECCA-Togo has demonstrated sustained best endeavors within its scope of responsibility to support public sector accounting reform and promote IPSAS implementation in the jurisdiction. SMO 5 is therefore assessed as Sustain.

Current Status: Sustain

The Ordre National des Experts-Comptables et des Comptables Agréés du Togo (ONECCA-Togo) is responsible for establishing and operating an investigation and discipline (I&D) system for its members under the national legal framework. Publicly available information indicates that the institute’s disciplinary arrangements have been operational since 2013 and that disciplinary decisions are currently undertaken through the institute’s disciplinary structures.

ONECCA-Togo has self-assessed its I&D system against Statement of Membership Obligations 6 (SMO 6) and has identified several areas requiring improvement to strengthen alignment with best practices. These include the separation of investigative and disciplinary procedures, the inclusion of non-accountants in the disciplinary process, the implementation of an operational appeals mechanism through the National Discipline Commission, and stronger public interest communication and awareness measures. The institute has also identified the need to establish a separate investigative committee and to link the I&D system with quality assurance review outcomes once the quality assurance review system is fully operational.

The institute reports that it is actively considering structural reforms to strengthen the system, including re-establishing the appeals mechanism and addressing limitations in the current legal framework. Public information also indicates that sanctions have been imposed in practice, demonstrating that the system is operational, although enforcement challenges remain where disciplinary decisions are contested through the judicial system.

The institute has moved beyond the planning stage and has an operational system in place, but further work is needed to align the jurisdiction-level framework with SMO 6 best practices.

Going forward, ONECCA-Togo should focus on establishing a separate investigative committee, operationalizing an independent appeals mechanism, strengthening enforcement processes, incorporating public interest features, and linking disciplinary procedures with quality assurance review outcomes.

Current Status: Execute

As a member state of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and the Organisation for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), Togo’s accounting standards are established through the regional legal framework. In January 2017, the Commission de Normalisation Comptable de l’OHADA (CNC-OHADA) adopted the OHADA Uniform Act on Accounting and Financial Information (Acte Uniforme relatif au Droit Comptable et à l’Information Financière (AUDCIF)) to replace the previous accounting framework and revise the Système Comptable OHADA (SYSCOHADA).

The revised framework became effective on January 1, 2018 for individual financial statements and on January 1, 2019 for consolidated financial statements. SYSCOHADA remains the applicable framework for small and medium-sized entities, while listed companies and companies seeking financing in a public capital market are required to apply International Financial Reporting Standards Accounting Standards (IFRS Accounting Standards) in consolidated financial statements.

The Ordre National des Experts-Comptables et des Comptables Agréés du Togo (ONECCA-Togo) has played an active role in supporting the convergence of SYSCOHADA with IFRS Accounting Standards and in supporting the implementation of the revised OHADA framework. Publicly available information indicates that the institute worked with national stakeholders, including the Conseil National de la Comptabilité and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, to support analysis and implementation of the revised standards.

In addition, ONECCA-Togo continues to provide technical training and awareness activities for members on both SYSCOHADA and IFRS Accounting Standards. The institute reports ongoing training programs to support implementation, including sector-specific training on IFRS requirements for financial institutions and banks.

Accordingly, ONECCA-Togo has demonstrated sustained best endeavors within its scope of responsibility to support the adoption and implementation of accounting standards in the jurisdiction.

Current Status: Sustain