Harriet is a former employee of the University of Cape Coast where she rose through the ranks from an Auditing Assistant to an Assistant Internal Auditor before relocating to Accra.
Mrs. Karikari holds a Master of Business Administration (Accounting) from the University of Ghana and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Cape Coast. Harriet also holds a Higher National Diploma (Accountancy) and Diploma in Business Studies (Accounting) from the Cape Coast Polytechnic.
She is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG). An active member of the Association of Women Accountants Ghana (AWAG). Harriet is also a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors in Ghana and the Global Institute of Internal Auditors.
Mrs. Karikari is a dynamic and experienced Internal Auditor with close to twenty-eight (28) years of experience in government subvented tertiary educational institutions in Ghana. She has developed an excellent understanding of the complexities, challenges and best practices in internal audit. She is very knowledgeable in Internal Auditing, Governance, Risk and Controls.
Harriet has attended and participated in numerous workshops, conferences, seminars, webinars and training programmes both locally and internationally to build on her professional experience.
Harriet together with Mr. Andrews Amankwaa, (Institute Internal Auditor of UniMAC-IFT) wrote a Position Paper on Digital Sustainability. She, together with two finance staff of the Institute of Journalism, wrote an Action Memo on the Introduction of Economics, Finance and Taxation courses for Trainee Journalists in UniMAC-IJ. Harriet also had an assessment of the Clocking System deployed by the Management of the Ghana Institute of Journalism and issued a report to management for efficiency. She supported the then Institute of Journalism to enhance good corporate governance, effective controls and value for money, and has transferred those virtues to UniMAC holistically.
Mrs. Harriet Akua Karikari brings her professional experience to bear by serving in many capacities outside the University. She currently serves as the Vice President of the African Federation of Institutes of Internal Auditors (AFIIA) responsible for Western Africa. She is a Member of the Institute Relations Committee of the Global Institute of Internal Auditors, a Member of the Governing Council of the Institute of Internal Auditors, Ghana, a Chairperson of the Ga North District Society of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (where she is serving a second term), a Member of the College Board of ICAG, a Member of the Member Services Committee of ICAG, the Chairperson of the Ghana National College Endowment Fund Board, a Treasurer of Ghana National College Old Students (Nananom) 89 Year Group, a Treasurer of the Simpson Family Descendants, the Chairperson for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture Audit Committee, the Chairperson for the Tema West Municipal Assembly Audit Committee, the Chairperson for the 2025 Annual National Conference Organising Committee of IIA Ghana, a Member of the Greater Accra Regional Council of Elders of the Calvary Charismatic Centre (CCC), the Chairperson of the Greater Accra CCC Audit Committee, a Member of the Oyibi CCC Local Council of Elders, a Treasurer for Pastors’ Wives and Lady Pastors (PWLP), CCC Greater Accra and a Member/Treasurer of Pastors’ Wives and Lady Pastors (PWLP), Greater Accra.
Harriet is the Immediate Past President of the Institute of Internal Auditors, Ghana. She previously served as Vice President and Honorary Secretary/Council Member at different times. Again, she had served on several committees and chaired several committees at the Institute of Internal Auditors Ghana. Notable among them are:
Chairperson of the 2024 Annual National Conference Organising Committee of IIA Ghana, the Chairperson of the 2024 Organising Committee, the Board/CEO/CAE of the Governance Forum, the Chairperson of the 2023 Organising Committee, the Board/CEO/CAE of the Governance Forum.
Harriet has moderated several webinars for IIA Ghana, AFIIA and AWAG.
She is the former Vice President of the Ga North District Society of ICAG, the former Audit Committee Member for National Pensions and Regulatory Authority (NPRA) and the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, the former Audit Committee Chairperson for Akuapim South District Assembly for two terms.
Harriet represented Convocation on the 3rd Governing Council for the Ghana Institute of Journalism from October 2017 to May 2021.
Mrs. Karikari was invited by the Governing Council and Management of the Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU) to be the Guest of Honour at their 20th Congregation Ceremony at Cape Coast in February 2024.
With her passion for the Internal Audit profession and by dint of hard work, Harriet has had the opportunity to be the External Assessor in Internal Auditing for University of Cape Coast, University for Development Studies, Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) and University of Energy and Natural Resources.
Mrs. Harriet Akua Karikari is a mentor in the Accounting and Internal Auditing profession. She is a team player, goal oriented, result driven individual with a passion for the internal audit profession to ensure value for money.