By Christiana Afua Nyarko
Accra, Oct. 4, GNA – Procurement professionals have been urged to look beyond securing the lowest price making purchase decisions based on quality, risk, efficiency and the overall value to their organisations.
Mr Kobina Atta Bedu, a Management and Procurement Consultant, said procurement officers who did not understand their organisations’ broader objectives risked making purchasing decisions that could undermine financial performance and organisational strategy.
Mr Bedu was speaking at the 2026 KRIF Ghana Procurement Master Class in Accra, which brought together more than 100 procurement professionals and business practitioners from institutions including the Bank of Ghana, the Office of the President, and the Ghana Police Service to discuss appropriate procurement strategies to ensure value for money.
Mr Bedu cautioned against “maverick buying”, where individuals or departments purchased goods and services outside established procurement systems, saying that that could weaken spending controls and prevent organisations from obtaining the full value of their purchasing power.
He urged professionals to understand their organisations’ vision, business strategies and objectives and translate them into appropriate procurement strategies.
Ms Maggie Lada, an International Development Consultant and former USAID Chief of Party in Zambia, said emotional intelligence, curiosity and sound judgement were equally important to technical competence as procurement professionals advanced into management positions.
She urged them to build effective relationships across departments, manage disagreements professionally and approach senior managers with practical solutions rather than merely presenting problems.
Reverend Kennedy Okosun, Executive Chairman of KRIF Ghana Limited, said procurement professionals needed to broaden their knowledge on finance, operations, technology, strategy and leadership to contribute effectively to organisational decision-making.
He said procurement should no longer be viewed merely as an administrative function, but as a strategic area capable of influencing organisational growth and performance.
The Master Class, held on the theme: “Buying Better: Cost, Quality, Risk & Total Value in Workplace Procurement,” included a Procurement Challenge Lab in which participants worked through a practical exercise from planning to contract award, as well as sessions on supplier evaluation and the hidden costs of cheap purchases.
The programme was intended to strengthen professional competence and equip practitioners to deliver greater value through procurement.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter Christiana Afua Nyarko
Email: [email protected]