One of many persistent challenges confronting public monetary administration in Ghana is the rising misuse of sole sourcing in public procurement.
Whereas this technique is legally permitted below particular circumstances, resembling urgency or when just one provider is on the market, it’s more and more used as a default, particularly after the discharge of budgetary allocations to Ministries, Departments, and Companies (MDAs).
On the coronary heart of this situation is a misaligned procurement course of: many MDAs delay the initiation of procurement till funds are bodily launched.
This apply creates synthetic emergencies, offering the right justification for utilizing sole sourcing. It erodes transparency, stifles competitors, and undermines the hunt for worth for cash.
To revive integrity within the procurement course of, the federal government should undertake a proactive and strategic method.
The answer is obvious: permit MDAs to provoke procurement processes instantly after the nationwide finances is permitted. The processes—planning, commercial, bid analysis, and choice—can proceed whereas contract signing is deferred till the precise launch of funds and the mandatory approval from the Workplace of the President.
This method gives a number of strategic benefits:
- Eliminating Pointless Emergency Procurements By starting procurement processes early, MDAs can keep away from time pressures that result in emergency procurements and sole sourcing.
- Encouraging Aggressive Tendering: Early promoting provides the personal sector enough time to answer tenders, rising competitors and the standard of bids.
- Incorporating Finances Set off Clauses: Contracts can embody provisions that activate them solely upon fund availability. This ensures authorized and monetary compliance whereas sustaining operational readiness.
- Improved Procurement Planning: Mandating MDAs to publish their Annual Procurement Plans (APPs) and Procurement Calendars inside 30 days of finances approval promotes transparency, predictability, and belief within the system.
- Elevated Provider Confidence: Suppliers, contractors, and consultants will develop renewed confidence within the authorities’s procurement system, realizing that alternatives are marketed on time, pretty evaluated, and never rushed to favor a couple of. This belief can enhance participation, appeal to higher-quality bids, and foster long-term partnerships.
- Strengthened Institutional Credibility: When procurement processes are predictable, clear, and well timed, it indicators to each residents and growth companions that the federal government is dedicated to good governance and monetary prudence. This may enhance investor confidence and worldwide repute.
- Operational Effectivity: Early procurement initiation ensures that MDAs aren’t caught in procurement bottlenecks, main to higher venture implementation, well timed service supply, and accelerated nationwide growth outcomes.
- Discount in Procurement-Associated Corruption: Transparency and early planning cut back the area for arbitrary choices and corruption. Aggressive processes go away much less room for favoritism and backdoor preparations.
This technique is not only a advice—it’s a necessity. It’s time for the federal government to undertake this forward-looking reform to guard public funds, promote worth for cash, and construct a procurement system that Ghanaians can belief.
The Workplace of the Chief of Workers is well-positioned to spearhead this reform by advising all Ministers accordingly. By issuing a directive that mandates early procurement initiation—whereas conditioning contract execution on fund launch and presidential approval—the federal government will take a daring step in the direction of curbing procurement-related corruption and inefficiency.
Conclusion
Early initiation of procurement actions aligns with worldwide finest practices in public monetary administration. It enhances transparency, fosters competitors, and promotes higher planning and financial duty. Allow us to act now to strengthen Ghana’s procurement system and ship higher outcomes for our residents.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Feedback, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform don’t essentially characterize the views or coverage of Multimedia Group Restricted.
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