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25.08.2006 Business & Finance

Improving Procurement In The Public Sector

25.08.2006 LISTEN
By ISD (Tony Goodman / Diana Abbey)

The Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Hon Dr Gyan Baffour, has stated that Act 663 of the Procurement Act 2003 was one of the good governance indicators that triggered Ghana's qualification for the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA).

He added that good governance hinges on good procurement practices. Improving procurement in the public sector will yield dividends beyond financial savings, he stressed.

The Deputy Minister made this remark today in Accra at an Annual Public Forum of the Public Procurement Board under the theme, “Public Procurement and Good Governance.”

He, however, emphasized that the supplier of the goods, works, and services needed to implement the proposed interventions which would be selected when using the procurement methods in the public procurement Act 2003.

The minister advised the public institutions to use resources allocated to them to acquire goods, works or services at the least cost under the right circumstances to meet societal needs.

The Chief Executive of the Public Procurement Board (PPB), Agyenim Boateng Adjei, in his remark, observed that all entities who intend to use the restricted tendering or Sole Source procurement methods should seek approval from the public procurement board before doing so. He added that it has issued guidelines on how these requests are to be made.

He expressed regret that all these arrangements not withstanding, some entities do not fully comply with these instructions making it difficult for the board to effectively meet its obligations.

The Chief Executive gave the assurance that in spite of all difficulties it will use fair and transparent methods in acquisition of goods, works and services.

Mr Kwesi Abbey Sam, the chairman of the board, hinted that the board is in the process of setting up an Appeal and Complains Resolution Unit to handle appeals and complains that come before it.

He explained that a Task Force made up of representatives from the ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Attorney General's Department and staff of the Secretariat of PPB are working out the modalities for the composition and processes of the proposed unit.

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