GH¢800m Saved in Strict Procurement Process ― Adwoa Safo

The Government of Ghana is making headway in the fight against corruption especially in the Public Procurement sector, latest reports have indicated.

According to the Minister of State in charge of the Ministry of Public Procurement (MoPP), Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo, the country in 2017 saved a whooping GH¢800 Million through strict application of the procurement law.

Speaking at the launch of the ministry’s website in Accra, Yesterday, Ms Safo said: “Our target is to help Ghana achieve openness, fairness, integrity and value for money that will enable us achieve value for money in all our public procurements.”

“I believe that with coordinated efforts we can make tremendous savings for the state which can equally be channelled to other sectors of the economy,” she added.

The Minister further indicated that government is working assiduously to ensure it implements a policy that would allocate 30 per cent of all procurement from local businesses to entities owned by women, persons with disability (PWDs) and youths.

According to her, “This policy is far advanced and would be launched very soon. Government is setting apart 30% of all government contracts for purposes of/ including the marginalised groups so that they can equally compete in the public procurement process.”

MoPP Portal

The MoPP’s new website is created purposely for the sharing of information on all government procurement policies, strategies, programmes and projects.

The website is expected to complement an E-procurement application undertaken by the Public Procurement Authority to bring out the human interface in procurement which according to Ms Safo, is a breeding ground for corruption, fraud and pollution in the sector.

The E-procurement process is expected to be operational by September, 2018.

The general public is therefore encouraged to visit the MoPP’s website on www.mopp.gov.gh for all information on Public Procurement.

PPA Not MoPP

Meanwhile, the minister in charge of Public Procurement has indicated that her ministry is not the same as the Public Procurement Authority adding that they both have different work descriptions.

While the MoPP has been mandated by government to advise the President on Public Procurement matters and formulate concrete policies and strategies on Public Procurement in accordance with internationally acceptable Procurement rules and practices, the PPA is a regulatory body duly established to enforce the Public Procurement laws.

“…the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) under the Act 663 as amended is the singular body legally mandated to grant approvals for the use of single source and restrictive tendering as a method of procurement.  This approval power does not lie in me as the minister nor in my ministry,” she explained.

Present at the launch, amongst others were, the Chief of Staff, Mrs Akosua Frema Osei-Opare; Minister of Communication, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful and Minister of Information, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid.

By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey/ [email protected] & Pamela A. Allotey (Intern)