Asiedu Dede Beatrice (Intern Manifold Institute)
The Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Professor Newman Kwadwo Kusi, has called on the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to ensure that governmental agencies such as the MDAs are managed properly to improve efficiency in their services.
Mr. Newman, who was speaking on behalf of the sector Minister, made these remarks at the La Palm Royal Hotel in Accra.
According to Mr. Kusi, public procurement is the process by which state agencies and institutions of government purchase goods and services using public funds. He went on to say that public sector financial management now occupies the heart of economic policy making in the country.
“The renewed interest in the need for having an efficient and effective public sector that works better and cost less is one of many factors contributing to the impetus, indeed a new urgency for examining the issues of public and as such the government has also long realised the importance of effective and efficient public financial management so as to reduce poverty in the country,” said Mr Kwadwo Kusi.
To this end, he urged all public institutions to prepare annual procurement plans for approval by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning after the budget has been accepted. He said each procurement entity is expected to submit and update its procurement plan because the government recognizes that a more effective procurement
system is critical to effective and efficient management
The acting Chief Director advised the PPA to consider organizing workshops on how to do business with the government in compliance with Act 663. This, he disclosed, must be done on regular basis as part of efforts to strengthen the private sector to enable players in that field compete for government contracts.
He commended the PPA for initiating the report on “Establishment of a career Path and Career Development of Procurement Professionals and Practitioners in the public sector.
