Don't award contracts to "Unknown" contractors

Takoradi, July 28, GNA- Mr. Charles Taylor, a Procurement Consultant has said that, it would be "Illegal and dangerous" for any institution to award contract to new and unknown contractors. "Such contractors may not have been tried to ascertain their efficiency, resources and capacities".

He also said such contractors have no experience and could not provide the needed guarantees.

Mr. Taylor was addressing a two-day Public Education and Awareness Creation workshop organised by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning at Takoradi on Tuesday.

Participants introduced to the Internal Audit Agency Act, the Financial Administration Act and the Public Procurement Act of 2003. These laws would become operational from August 27 this year.

Heads of decentralised Government Departments, District Chief Executives, and Media practitioners, Accountants, District Coordinating Directors and their Deputies attended.

Mr. Taylor cautioned that some guarantees provided by some contractors were not genuine and should be verified, before projects were approved.

"If this is not done, they will collect their 20 per cent mobilization funds and vanish into thin air", he said. He however added that suppliers, contractors or consultants would have the right to review the delay or breach of contract by the procuring entity under the new laws.

Mr. Ralph Gorleku, a consultant said the Ministry of Finance would introduce Standard Tender Documents (STD), which would be used to apply for projects before December 2004.

He said the full implementation of the laws would reduce corruption and poverty.

Mr. Gorleku said once the new laws become operational, the District Tender Board Regulations of 1995, L. I. 1606, the Ghana National Procurement Agency Decree of 1976 SMCD 55 and the Ghana Supply Commission Law, 1990 PNDC Law 245 would be repealed.

Mr. Raymond Govina, Director of research at the Comptroller and Accountant General's Department said an Internal Audit Board would soon be constituted.

The Board would establish the appropriate structures for the effective and efficient implementation of the laws to achieve its objective.