Characteristics of public accountability, is the nex topic to consider in this guide but first let see the defination of accountabiliy before we consider the charateristics of public accountability.

Public accountability is the obligation placed on public authorities to account for what has been done (or not done) with the resources entrusted to their care as a result of a responsibility they have been given.

Related topic: TYPES OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC SECTOR

Public accountability guarantees that public officials’ actions and decisions are subject to oversight, ensuring that government initiatives achieve their stated goals and satisfy the needs of the citizens they are supposed to help, contributing to better governance and poverty reduction.

In general, accountability arises when an individual’s or a group’s actions are subject to the scrutiny, direction, or request of another person or group who provides information or reason for their conduct.

CHARACTERISTICS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY

Public accountability involves two distinct characteristices: that is answerability and enforcement. Different institutions of accountability might be responsible for either or both these stages depending on the nature of the accountability process.

1. Answerability is a aspect of accountability which refers to the obligation of the government, its agencies and public officials to provide information about their decisions and actions and to justify them to the public and those institutions of accountability tasked with providing oversight.
2. Enforcement on the other hand suggests that the public or the institution responsible for accountability can sanction the offending party or remedy the contravening behavior. As such.

Accountability is synonymous with answerability, blameworthiness, culpability, and the expectation of account-giving in terms of ethics and governance.

It has been at the center of conversations about challenges in the public sector, nonprofit and private (business) sectors, as well as individual contexts.

Related topic: IMPORTANCE OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Accountability in leadership roles refers to the acceptance and assumption of responsibility for actions, products, decisions, and policies, as well as the administration, governance, and implementation of those actions, products, decisions, and policies within the scope of the role or employment position, as well as the obligation to report, explain, and be accountable for the resulting consequences.

Accountability in government has evolved beyond the simple meaning of “being held accountable for one’s conduct.” It is frequently described as a relationship in which individuals are held accountable for their actions and decisions, such as “A is accountable to B when A is required to inform B about A’s (past or future) actions and decisions, to justify them, and to suffer punishment in the event of future misconduct” and more.

Accountability is impossible to achieve without adequate accounting processes; in other words, accountability is impossible to achieve without accounting. Good records management is another important aspect of accountability.

IN CONCLUSION

Accountability is synonymous with answerability, blameworthiness, culpability, and the expectation of account-giving in terms of ethics and governance.

It has been at the center of conversations about challenges in the public sector, nonprofit and private (business) sectors.

Note:

The public sector accounting post or guides or articles are not limited to these 10 countries alone:

1. Ghana
2. Nigeria
3. United States
4. Uganda
5. India
6. Kenya
7. Philippines
8. Malaysia
9. Tanzania
10. South Africa

But instead targeted all the countries in the world since public sector accounting is being practice in every country in the world, so wherever country you are in the world can read public sector guides here since public sector accounting applications are similar.