This paper examines the plausibility of the arguments for and against regulating the production of accounting information. The literature is reviewed and discussed in the context of sub-Saharan Africa countries. After a careful review of the debates and the contemporary theories of financial disclosures, it is argued that voluntary disclosure mechanisms cannot be used as policy instruments because of the absence of institutions. Two epilogues are provided first a general one and the second specific to sub-Saharan economics.