Worse performing contractors, suppliers and consultants to be debarred

Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo, the Minister of State in charge of Public Procurement, says her office is compiling past and present records of all contractors, consultants and suppliers to ascertain their performance abilities and their financial capabilities.

She said the compilation of the data would help in rating them.

“From this data, contractors and suppliers and service providers would be rated. Worse performers would be suspended or debarred for a specific period. This is to ensure fairness, accountability, integrity, transparency and value for money,” she said.

The data would, therefore, “bring sanity in Ghana’s procurement system,” she said.

Ms Safo said this in a speech read on her behalf at the Ninth Annual Public Procurement Forum of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) held in Accra on Wednesday.

It seeks to brainstorm on how to move public procurement forward by strengthening Procurement Units within entities.

The forum, on the theme: “Functional Procurement Units: Key to Sustainable Public Procurement System,” would additionally seek views on the operations of public procurement through the lenses of good governance.

The Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), as amended, requires the PPA to ensure that all procuring entities have functional units within their institutions.

Ms Safo said a drafted Code of conduct for procurement practitioners had now been forwarded to the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Attorney General for review.

She said when the drafted document was reviewed same would be forwarded to Cabinet for approval.

A breach of the Code of Conduct would have disciplinary consequences or sanctions, she said.

Ms Safo announced that her office had also formulated a draft policy for the allocation of at least 30 per cent of government procurement to companies owned by Women, Youth and Persons with Disability.

According to her the move was in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Goal One, which seeks to end poverty in all its forms everywhere and Goal 10 that also seeks to reduce inequality.

She explained that the policy was intended to promote inclusiveness, equal opportunity and treatment in public procurement in Ghana.

“This policy document is also ready for onward submission to cabinet for approval.”

Ms Safo indicated that her office and other professional bodies to top management officials and Regional Coordinating Councils of the six newly created regions to enhance procurement practice and achieve value for money.