China Lauds Gov’t for Improved Procurement Practices

The Chinese Government has applauded President Nana Akufo-Addo and the Minister of State in charge of Public Procurement, Sarah Adwoa Safo, for what it says is their commitment to protecting the public purse.

The Chinese Government also said it was excited about the gains made by the Ghanaian Government in the area of public procurement ever since it assumed office in January 2017.

“We were very impressed by the figures the President gave during his message on the State of the Nation”, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Sun Baohong said when Madam Adwoa Safo paid a courtesy call on her at her office in Accra last Wednesday, February 21, 2018.

Among the notable gains touted by the Akufo-Addo administration, the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) received 394 sole sourcing applications but approved 223, representing 56.6% and rejected 171 applications, representing 4.6%.

In 2016, the PPA received 622 sole sourcing applications but 577 were approved, representing 98% while 25 applications were rejected.

“So, comparatively, for sole sourcing alone, the approvals that we gave in 2017 was 56.6% compared to 98% in 2016. That is a very impressive way to start”, Madam Adwoa Safo told the Chinese Ambassador.

On restrictive tendering, the PPA, she added, received 346 applications in 2017 but only 164, representing 48% were approved while a total of 179 applications, representing 52% were rejected.

In 2016, the PPA received 592 applications on restrictive tendering but 587, representing 99.15% were approved while only 5 applications were rejected.

“If you compare in our case for restrictive tendering, we approved 167 applications, representing 48% in 2017 while in 2016 99.15% were approved. The figures are so clear. If we open our eyes on restrictive tendering and make sure we set our eyes to protect the public purse, we can do it because, for a year, we’ve been able to do it”, she said.

In response to this, Madam Baohong assured that the Chinese Government was committed to helping Ghana fight corruption.

She said the Chinese Government advised its businessmen and women wanting to do business in Ghana to do so in a very legal way so that there will be peace and harmony between the two countries.

Madam Baohong also assured the Public Procurement Minister of the Chinese Government’s willingness to supporting her ministry’s capacity building programs in China to equip the personnel with the requisite knowledge and skills to perform efficiently.