Africa Procurement & Supply Chain Awards has been held in a grand style at the prestigious Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra.
The event celebrated Ghana’s significant advancements in procurement, highlighting the progress made in both public and private sector financial management.
The ceremony also recognized the strides leaders in this sector have taken to enhance procurement practices, improve efficiency, and ensure transparency.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Akin Naphtal, CEO and Founder of Instinct Wave, highlighted that the event was not only about celebrating individual achievements but also about recognizing the vital role that leaders in the procurement and supply chain industry play in improving organizational profit.
He emphasized the importance of giving these leaders the accolades they deserve and urged organizations to pay greater attention to the procurement and supply chain industry.
Mr. Naphtal noted that leaders in this field have often been overlooked and stressed that platforms like this awards ceremony are essential for bringing the industry back into focus by acknowledging those who prioritize compliance.
“You truly deserve this recognition for your invaluable contributions to the development of procurement in Ghana,” he remarked. He also encouraged industry leaders to continue being innovative and technologically inclined to drive further progress.
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Ign Kwame Prempeh, delivered a speech on behalf of the PPA’s CEO, Mr. Frank Mante, highlighting the country’s strides in the procurement sector.
Mr. Prempeh emphasized the strategic importance of public procurement in achieving policy objectives, fostering economic growth, and ensuring sustainable development.
He underscored the PPA’s mission to harmonize procurement processes across public services, ensuring the judicious, economical, and efficient use of public funds in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner.
The PPA, established under the Public Procurement Act, of 2003 (Act 663), has embarked on several initiatives to enhance procurement practices. Notably, in 2018, the Authority launched a centralized supplier database, streamlining supplier registration and management, thus improving efficiency and accountability.
A year later, Ghana became the first West African nation to introduce an end-to-end electronic procurement system, GHANEPS, funded by the World Bank.
This system has revolutionized the procurement process by reducing the human interface, increasing productivity, and enhancing transparency. “GHANEPS has significantly reduced the use of paper and improved the tendering process,” Mr. Prempeh noted.
“As of June this year, 858 public entities and 8,000 public officers have been trained on its use, resulting in over 7,000 contracts worth approximately GHS 620 million.”
Mr. Prempeh also spoke about the recent passage of the Public Procurement Regulation in 2022, which introduces clear guidelines and procedures for procurement processes, ensuring consistency and fairness across government entities. A significant milestone highlighted was the policy on locally assembled vehicles.
The government’s industrial development strategy has attracted global automotive manufacturers, leading to the establishment of eight assembly plants in Ghana. The PPA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade & Industry, is finalizing procurement policy guidelines to prioritize the purchase of locally assembled vehicles by public entities.
The PPA’s collaborative efforts with other agencies, such as the Ghana Audit Service and the Energy Commission, were also underscored.
These partnerships have led to the development of standardized procurement audit frameworks and local content policies for electrical goods and timber products.
Despite these achievements, Mr. Prempeh acknowledged the challenges facing the PPA, including inadequate budgetary allocations and the need for enhanced capacity building among procurement officers.
He urged public institutions to invest in training and capacity development to uphold ethical standards and professionalism.
Mr. Prempeh also reiterated the PPA’s commitment to continuous improvement and transparency in public procurement.
He announced plans for a comprehensive assessment of procurement activities across the country and the initiation of the Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems (MAPS) to evaluate the impact of recent measures.
“The road ahead may be challenging, but we see exciting days ahead. We encourage all procurement practitioners to take pride in their profession and help build public confidence in the procurement process.” Mr. Prempeh declared.
Mr. Prempeh also commended the organizers for their consistent excellence over the past six editions and applauded the award recipients, recognizing their vital contributions to Ghana’s procurement sector.
Source: Isaac Kofi Dzokpo/newsghana.com.gh
