Leadership of the Ghana Institute of Procurement and Supply (GIPS) have paid a courtesy call on executives of the Central Tender Review Committee (CTRC) at the Ministry of Finance as part of ongoing engagements with procurement stakeholders toward passage of the proposed Procurement Practicing bill.
The meeting follows similar engagements with other key actors in the procurement fraternity; including the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Chartered Institute of Accountants Ghana (ICAG) and multinational auditing firm KMPG.
According to president of the institute Mr. Simon Annan, the meeting was also to present a copy of the draft bill and solicit the inputs and technical expertise of the CTRC, considering its role as a key stakeholder in Ghana’s procurement setup – especially in the area of public sourcing.
“We want to regulate the people who practice procurement, and that will depend on enactment of the Procurement Practicing bill; we are here to seek your counsel, expertise and resources toward the passage of this bill,” the GIPS president said in his brief remarks.
He added: “The Central Tender Review Committee plays a key role in the public procurement sector, and we believe that with their support and collaboration we can collectively change the narrative around the practice of procurement in the country.”
According to the GIPS boss, the institute is resolute in its quest to spearhead the practice of value-based procurement in Ghana; adding that passing the Procurement Practicing bill will guide and sanitise the country’s procurement landscape. “With your support, we can have a procurement bill that gives us the backing to certify practitioners, enforce ethical conduct and apply requisite sanctions as necessary,” Mr. Annan further indicated.
Chairman of the Central Tender Review Committee, Mr. Fred Kwakye who received the GIPS team, pledged support from the CTRC for the procurement bill – which he said will help to address procurement-related infractions in the country.
He however bemoaned the high incidence of procurement infractions in the public sector, and implored the GIPS leadership to champion behavioural change among procurement practitioners in the country. “The major issue of our economy is expenditure; we’re spending more than we are generating. Procurement professionals need to get that mindset of ensuring there is value for money in procurement,” he added.
Mr. Kwakye further encouraged GIPS members to specialise in key areas of the economy to build capacity and knowledge in those specific sectors, so as to enable them go about their work in a more ethical and professional manner.
