Joseph Akadeagre Agana

Tilknyttet UiA

Department of Economics and Finance

Email: joseph.agana@uia.no
Mobile phone: +4798846129

Office 9I167 (Universitetsveien 19, 4630 Kristiansand, Norway)

Research groups

Accounting and auditing

Areas of responsibility

Joseph Agana is a PhD candidate in Accounting at the School of Business and Law, University of Agder and a Lecturer at the Department of Accounting and Finance, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. He holds a Master of Philosophy degree in Accounting from the KNUST and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants-Ghana (ICAG).

Research

My broad research interest is in three main areas of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), Audit and Transfer Pricing.

For my PhD, I am currently focusing on the implications of changes in financial reporting and auditing. First, empirical evidence has shown that financial reporting systems and complexity have implications for audit particularly auditor type, audit fees and the use of non-audit service. In that sense, I seek to examine the implications of IFRS for SMEs adoption on the audit of SMEs in developing countries.

Second, recent changes in audit particularly the introduction and adoption of ISA 701; Key Audit Matters (KAM) have implications for the informativeness of annual reports. Thus, questions relating to the link between key audit matters and the content of directors report are focal areas of interest.

Selected publications

Agana Joseph Akadeagre, Mohammed Abu-Khanifa, Zamore Stephen, International Transfer Pricing and Income Shifting in Developing Countries: Evidence from Ghana (2018). International Journal of Emerging Markets . ISSN 1746-8809.

Mireku, K., Sakyi, E. A., & Agana, J. A. (2018). Does Commercial Banks Presence Enhance Profitability in Ghana?. Global Business Review, 0972150918794969.

Tuition

Prior to joining the Department of Economics and Finance at the School of Business and Law, University of Agder, Joseph taught accounting courses such as Taxation, Management Accounting, Intermediate Accounting (Introduction to IFRS), and Public Sector Accounting at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana.

Mwintome, Gordon; Agana, Joseph & Zamore, Stephen (2023). Audit partner attributes and key audit matters readability. Journal of Applied Accounting Research. ISSN 0967-5426. doi: 10.1108/JAAR-01-2023-0009. Show summary
Purpose The authors examine the association between two important audit partner characteristics and the readability of key audit matters (KAMs) disclosed in the audit reports. Specifically, the authors examine how the readability of KAMs is associated with audit partner tenure and workload. Design/methodology/approach The authors conduct the study in the audit context of Norway and applied the Flesch reading ease scale to measure the readability levels of reported KAMs in the audit reports of companies listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Panel data estimation techniques are applied in estimating how partner tenure and workload are associated with the readability of KAMs. In addition, several robustness tests including different measures of KAMs readability and subsample analyses are performed. Findings The authors find that audit partner tenure and workload have significant associations with the level of KAMs readability. Specifically, the results show that the reported KAMs become more readable as the audit partner tenure increases but are less readable for partners with more workload. These results appear stronger in subsamples of KAMs typically noted to be more complex and associated with higher risks. Research limitations/implications As KAMs represent the most significant issues in financial statements audit, these results provide important insights to stakeholders on the potential impact of audit partner tenure and workload on KAMs readability. Less readable KAMs could derail stakeholders' desire to bridge the information gap between auditors and users of the audit report. The uniqueness of this study lies in its focus on audit partner characteristics as opposed to the audit firm. Practical implications Excessive audit partner workload impairs KAMs readability. Originality/value As KAMs represent the most significant issues in financial statements audit, these results provide important insights to stakeholders on the potential impact of audit partner tenure and workload on KAMs readability. Less readable KAMs could derail stakeholders' desire to bridge the information gap between auditors and users of the audit report. The uniqueness of this study lies in its focus on audit partner characteristics as opposed to the audit firm.
Agana, Joseph; Zamore, Stephen & Domeher, Daniel (2023). IFRS adoption: a systematic review of the underlying theories. Journal of Financial Reporting & Accounting. ISSN 1985-2517. doi: 10.1108/JFRA-08-2022-0317. Show summary
Purpose This paper aims to examine the theoretical underpinnings of international financial reporting standards (IFRS)-related studies and offers directions for theoretical and empirical research. Specifically, this study examines the main theories in IFRS adoption research (i.e. adoption, compliance and effects). Design/methodology/approach The sample contains 67 empirical papers that have used theories and was collected from Web of Science database. This study uses a systematic review technique. Findings Generally, the review shows the prevalent and pervasive use of institutional theories of isomorphism across all the three areas of IFRS adoption. Particularly, regarding IFRS adoption stream, this study finds the institutional theory as a dominant theory used to explain IFRS diffusion around the globe. For IFRS compliance, this study finds that the agency and the capital need theories are widely used. For IFRS adoption effects stream, this study finds a few studies using the contingency and neo-institutional theories. Overall, the review provides theoretical lens for IFRS adoption, IFRS compliance and IFRS adoption effects. Originality/value Given the lack of a well-defined set of theories in the domain of accounting, the findings provide further guidance on theory building within the field. Further, accounting regulators, academics and practitioners may benefit from the findings when explaining various changes in the world of accounting.
Agana, Joseph; Zori, Solomon George & Alon, Anna (2023). IFRS Adoption Approaches and Accounting Quality. The International Journal of Accounting. ISSN 1094-4060. 58(3). doi: 10.1142/S1094406023500099. Show summary
Synopsis The research problem This paper sought to ascertain whether IFRS adoption approaches impact accounting quality. Specifically, as some countries utilize IFRS without modifications while others modify IFRS to suit their local context, we aimed to test whether these differences in IFRS adoption approaches have implications for accounting quality. Motivation Prior studies focused on the impact of IFRS adoption on accounting quality without considering the different approaches used by the adopting jurisdictions. Such differences affect the version of IFRS utilized at the country level. We refer to jurisdictions as adopters of IFRS when the IASB’s version of IFRS is utilized without modifications. In contrast, jurisdictions where the IFRS standards are modified at the national or regional level are called adapters. We also recognize the role of enforcement; thus, we first examined whether IFRS adoption and enforcement influence accounting quality. Second, we compared the accounting quality for adopters and adapters of the standards. The test hypotheses Our first hypothesis is that the quality of enforcement has a stronger effect on accounting quality than the adoption of IFRS. Second, adapters will have higher accounting quality than adopters of IFRS. Target population We focused on the reporting of companies in African countries. These jurisdictions have not been sufficiently examined in prior studies. Adopted methodology We use panel data estimation, specifically, random-effects model. Analyses We examined accounting quality for pre- and post-IFRS reporting based on 3946 firm-year observations from six African countries over 18 years. Our analysis of the adoption approach is based on 3736 firm-year observations for companies utilizing IFRS. Except for Egypt, which used a modified version of IFRS, other countries in our sample utilized the IASB’s version of IFRS. Using various standard metrics for accounting quality (earnings management, timely loss recognition, and value relevance), we ascertained whether adaption is associated with higher accounting quality compared to adoption. Findings The results indicate that IFRS adoption and enforcement proxy are not associated with accounting quality, but other institutional factors are. Adoption of the standards is less important for accounting quality than the existing institutions. With regard to the adoption approach used, adopters demonstrated higher accounting quality for accounting-based measures, less income smoothing, and more timely loss recognition than the adapters. The adopters also exhibited greater value relevance, which suggests that their reporting was better able to capture information that affects firm value. The adoption approaches may influence different dimensions of accounting quality, and the resulting differences are important for users, companies, and standard setters to consider.
Agana, Joseph; Alon, Anna & Zamore, Stephen (2023). Self-regulation versus Government Oversight: Audit Fees Research. Journal of Accounting Literature. ISSN 0737-4607. 45(2). doi: 10.1108/JAL-12-2021-0017. Show summary
Purpose With Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX), the self-regulation of the auditing profession was replaced with standard setting and oversight by the government. The authors focus on the audit fees literature to examine how this change impacted research trends over time and shaped different aspects of audits. Design/methodology/approach The authors utilized bibliometric and content analysis to identify research themes pre- and post-SOX. Findings The change in regulation contributed to an increased focus on clients and continued interest in engagement characteristics as added requirements emphasized the client's governance structure, the auditor's tenure and the type of services provided. Originality/value The prominent issue that emerged is how deficiencies in the audit processes and in the client's internal controls are translated into audit fees. The authors discuss regulatory initiatives pursued in other jurisdictions, including mandatory rotation of firms, joint audits and further limitations on non-audit services, as intended and unintended consequences of these requirements warrant further examination.
Agana, Joseph; Mohammed, Abu-Khanifa & Zamore, Stephen (2018). International Transfer Pricing and Income Shifting in Developing Countries: Evidence from Ghana. International Journal of Emerging Markets. ISSN 1746-8809. 13(5), p. 1132–1153. doi: 10.1108/IJoEM-05-2017-0181.

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Zori, Solomon George; Aguelmous, Rachid; Gyimah, Daniel & Agana, Joseph (2022). The Effects of Reverse Cross-Listings on Firm Performance and Stock Market Development: Evidence of Cross-Listing from Developed to Emerging Markets.
Agana, Joseph (2021). Key Audit Matters: Implications for the use of specialist and audit fees.
Agana, Joseph (2021). Auditors use of experts in key audit matters.
Mwintome, Gordon; Mersland, Roy; Zamore, Stephen; Agana, Joseph & Nyarko, Samuel Anokye (2021). Agency conflicts and the demand for perceived audit quality in microfinance institutions.
Agana, Joseph; Alon, Anna & Zamore, Stephen (2021). Self-regulation and Re-regulation: Audit Fees Research.
Mwintome, Gordon; Zamore, Stephen; Agana, Joseph; Mersland, Roy & Anokye, Samuel (2021). Ownership, Institutional Factors and Auditor Choice in Developing Countries.
Mwintome, Gordon; Anna, Alon; Zamore, Stephen & Agana, Joseph (2021). Understanding the determinants of Key Audit Matters.
Mwintome, Gordon; Zamore, Stephen; Agana, Joseph; Mersland, Roy & Anokye, Samuel (2021). Governance, Institutional Quality and Auditor Choice in Emerging Markets.
Mwintome, Gordon; Alon, Anna; Zamore, Stephen & Agana, Joseph (2021). Determinants of Key Audit Matters: Governance and auditor attributes.
Mwintome, Gordon; Zamore, Stephen; Agana, Joseph; Nyarko, Samuel Anokye & Mersland, Roy (2020). Auditor Choice and its Implications for Hybrid Organizations.
Agana, Joseph (2020). Use of experts in key audit matters.
Agana, Joseph; Zori, Solomon & Alon, Anna (2020). IFRS adoption approaches in Africa: Implications for accounting quality (cancelled due to Covid-19).
Agana, Joseph (2020). Key Audit Matters: Implications for the use of specialists and audit fees (cancelled due to Covid-19).
Agana, Joseph; Alon, Anna & Zamore, Stephen (2020). Audit deregulation and re-regulation: Implications for audit fees .
Agana, Joseph; Alon, Anna & Zamore, Stephen (2019). Audit fees: A bibliometric analysis of the literature.
Agana, Joseph; Alon, Anna & Zamore, Stephen (2019). Audit fees: A bibliometric analysis of the literature. .
Agana, Joseph & Alon, Anna (2018). AUDIT FEES: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE LITERATURE.
Agana, Joseph (2021). Essays on the Implications of Accounting and Audit Regulations. Nauka. ISSN 978-82-8427-033-3. Full text in Research Archive

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Published Apr. 16, 2024 11:30 AM