In a move to ensure that every Kina of public funding translates into tangible service delivery, Certified Practicing Accountants Papua New Guinea (CPAPNG) has moved to professionalize the nation’s subnational financial systems.
The 51-year-old institution has entered into a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Provincial and Local Government Affairs (DPLGA), positioning its nearly 10,000 members as the front-line defenders of accountability in provincial and district administrations.
The agreement, signed on Tuesday at the Hilton Hotel, signals a shift from administrative oversight to a rigorous, certification-led intervention.
The partnership is part of the base work of the PNG Reset @50 20-Year Roadmap, specifically targeting the national priority of transparency. CPAPNG President, James Gore emphasized that the association is stepping beyond internal affairs to act in the broader public interest.
“This partnership stands as one of CPAPNG’s key initiatives aligned with these national priorities,” Gore said.
“We remain politically neutral and work collaboratively with the government of the day.”
For the first time, a clear framework has been established to upskill and certify accountants specifically within the public sector. This move aims to fix the implementation gap that often stalls development projects at the district level.
According to President Gore, the MOU is not just about training, but about a fundamental structural change supported by proposed amendments to the Accountants Act.
“The MOU sets out a clear framework for capacity building, upskilling, and ultimately certifying public sector accountants under the CPAPNG umbrella,” Gore explained.
“This will be supported by proposed amendments to the Accountants Act, ensuring a robust pathway for professionalization within the public sector.”
By focusing on provincial and district finance personnel, the reform targets the very people responsible for planning, budgeting, and acquittals. The goal is to ensure that funds intended for schools, roads, and healthcare are managed with a high level of ethical and professional rigor.
“Through this collaborative framework, CPAPNG and DPLGA will support improvement in public sector accounting performance, support policy and legislative reforms, and deliver specialized training and capacity building for provincial and district finance personnel,” Gore said.
As Papua New Guinea ventures into its next 50 years as a sovereign independent nation, the pressure for transparent governance has never been higher. CPAPNG is now mobilizing to ensure the public sector meets the expectations of citizens and international partners alike.
“Together, we can lay the foundation for lasting reform and stronger financial stewardship across Papua New Guinea,” Gore concluded.
