The President of the Ghana Institute of Procurement and Supply (GIPS), Dr Simon Annan, has called for a radical shift in how procurement is viewed and managed in Ghana.

Speaking in an interview on September 7, 2025, ahead of the 2025 National Procurement and Supply Conference (NPSC), scheduled for September 16–17 in Accra, he stressed that procurement must become a strategic driver of economic transformation rather than a routine backroom process.

Dr Annan said the event would set the agenda for reforming procurement practices to boost economic resilience and sustainable development.

“Procurement is not just about buying goods and services; it is a strategic role that can transform Ghana’s economy. This conference is about building professionalism, governance and policies that deliver value for money,” he stated.

The Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, is expected to headline the two-day conference with a keynote address on “Transforming Public Procurement for Sustainable Development.”

'Procurement key to economic resilience' – Dr Ato Forson

In a meeting with organisers in Accra on August 27, Dr Forson underscored the importance of procurement in Ghana’s growth agenda.

“Procurement is central to financial decisions in both the public and private sectors. This platform is crucial for advancing Ghana’s economic goals,” he said.

Dr Annan said the conference would serve as a platform to “benchmark Ghana’s procurement systems against global best practices” and explore reforms that strengthen governance, support local industries and drive industrialisation.

Themed “Reimagining Procurement and Supply for Sustainable Development and Economic Resilience,” the conference will bring together policymakers, industry leaders and academics, including Augustus Goosie Tanoh, Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy; Professor Douglas Boateng, Distinguished Fellow of GIPS and John Karani, Chairman of the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management.

Other key participants are Basel Ahiable, Board Chair of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA); Nana Oye Bampoe-Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff and Frank Mante, CEO of the PPA.



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