Ensuring value for money in procurement breeds tension - Kwaku Kwarteng

Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Ghana (CIPS) has held an executive breakfast meeting yesterday at the Golden Tulip, Accra with key stakeholders, members and procurement professionals to address problems facing the profession and measures to standardize practice.

Matters addressed at the meeting included the bad reputation of procurement and supply in public and private sectors, inability of procurement managers to sit at board meeting and lack of capacity building in the sector.

Participants were encouraged to take a holistic approach to their profession, they were also advised develop strategies and adopt new technologies that will cause positive change and create value in their respective fields and organisations.

Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo, Minister of Procurement addressing the gathering stated that government is setting up a committee to ensure ethics of standards module for procurement in Ghana. She added that it will serve as a form of benchmark for practitioners.

Sam Achampong, Regional Head Middle East, North and West Africa of CIPS gave an insightful presentation on procurement to participants. The presentation touched on the current trends in the procurement, the need for practitioners to abreast themselves with global standards and the essence of upholding ethics in their line of work.

Delivering his keynote address, Hon. Kwaku Kwarteng, Deputy Minister of Finance maintained that there is the need for government and institutions to procure things for which they have need for and can pay. This he said will avoid delay in payment.

He called on procurement managers to avoid wastage in the public sector and move towards standardisation. He stated that there is tension in ensuring that there is value for money in procurement.

He urged civil societies and the media to scrutinise public procurement and supply to ensure excellence.

The event was graced by procurement heads from major organizations and institutions across the country.