Do Bank Governance Mechanisms and Financial Report Lag Affect Audit Quality?

In the aftermath of banking failures in Africa, the survival of firms has thus been placed with the application of good corporate governance practice and the oversight role of internal and external auditors. This study examines whether audit quality is related to corporate board of directors and financial reporting timeliness in the context of developing countries. Using sample data from 21 universal banks in Ghana and 31 commercial banks in Kenya for the periods 2010 to 2019. The study employs the Generalized Least Square(GLS), using fixed effect to estimate the relationships. The empirical results document that board size, average 9, and board independence, 59% on average, increase audit quality in Africa. However, the relationship between board gender and audit quality is not significant. Financial report lag is not significant to audit quality in Africa. However, financial report lag in Kenya is negative and significant to quality audit. Our findings recommend that commercial banks in Africa should implement policies that would increase the size of their boards and the number of independent directors to enhance maximum benefits from good corporate governance practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]