By Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Takoradi, July 28, GNA – Mr. Ebenezer Opoku Agyeman, the Deputy Director for Management Information Systems at the Public Procurement Authority, has urged procurement officers not to sidestep the Public Procurement Act, to avoid committing offences.
He said they should rather be abreast with procurement laws to properly advise heads of institutions who may pressure them to do “the wrong things” in procurement processes.
Mr. Agyeman gave the order when procurement officers, the Local Accountability Network, (LANet) members, CSOs and media persons drawn from the Western and Central Regions at met a workshop organised by the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) in partnership with the Public Procurement Authority Ghana on the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS).
The training, supported by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation took participants through the overview of Procurement, the Laws, Acts and Rules, Procurement methods, amendment, reforms and who the Procurement Acts Applied.
They were also educated on the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS).
Mr. Agyeman said the GHANEPS had been introduced to help avoid breaches, issues of corruption, ensure speed and transparency adding, “This is the way to go, it has been integrated into the GIFMIS”.
Mr. Harrison-Cudjoe, the Programme Officer at GACC who represented the Executive Secretary, Madam Beauty Emefa Narteh said the training would strengthen procurement monitoring and promote transparency and accountability in public procurement.
Mr. Enoch Attoh, Procurement Officer, from the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipal Assembly praised the facilitators for clarity, and detailed presentation particularly on the GHANEPS.
He said the system was central in ending corruption, and other breaches in the Procurement processes if well implemented.
Mr. Kenneth Kpodo, a civil society representative said the information gathered on the GHANEPS would help them as Local Accountability Network members to duly monitor projects to enhance accountability.
Mr. Isaac Arko, a media representative noted how the knowledge gained would help him to churn out accurate reportage to help create better understanding among the populace.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda/Benjamin Mensa
Reporter: Mildred Siabi-Mensah
[email protected]