This is in sharp contrast to the zero savings made from sole sourcing in 2016 under the National Democratic Congress, according to figures from President Nana Akufo-Addo.

[contextly_sidebar id=”XQoOXtGuja8lhGYwtt70gAxQ56BYQjiP”]Beyond this, the Ghana Institute of Procurement and Supply, indicated that Ghana lost of GH¢ 100 million through various unethical procurement practices in 2015.

The Auditor General’s annual reports have in the past noted that about 80 percent of procurement malpractices are centred around sole sourcing.

As part of what Akufo-Addo called a “good story to tell” following his first year in office, he said the gains made on this front were evidence of his government’s ability to rise to the challenge to turn around the country’s fortunes.

Speaking during his encounter with the media at the Flagstaff House on Wednesday, he recalled that the New Patriotic Party had consistently cited sole sourcing and procurement malfeasance as one of the reasons for the difficulties of the economy under the Mahama government.

The NPP argued that sole sourcing allowed corruption and benefited a privileged few in the Mahama government, as they vowed to end such practices.

Comparing his first year in office to the final year of the Mahama government in 2016, President Akufo-Addo noted that, in the year 2016, the Public Procurement Authority had “622 sole source requests. 577 of that number were approved and there were 25 rejections.”

“There were 592 requests made for restricted tenders, and 587 were approved and there were five rejections. A grand total of zero savings were made through the procurement process,” he outlined.

“But in 2017, 394 sole sourcing requests were made out of which 223 were approved and 171 were rejected. There were 346 requested for restricted tenders and 167 were approved and 179 were rejected,” the President stated.

“Now, here is the interesting part. The savings made over the year, as a result, amounted to GHc145 million, $142 million, €1.8 million and £22,400… you cannot argue with figures and such figures surely open up the incentive to open up government procurement,” the President added.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Over GHc780m saved from sole sourcing – Nana Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The party says government is capitalizing on the procurement rules to engage in corrupt business practices.

Policy Advisor to the NPP flagbearer, Boakye Agyarko told Citi Breakshow Show host, Bernard Avle that government’s decision to practice of procuring goods and services through sole sourcing has resulted in the country getting bad competitive rates.

Sole sourcing has featured prominently in most of the major corruption scandals in recent past with many calling on government to stop sole sourcing contracts.

Mr Boakye Agyarko said, an NPP government will restrict the over-reliance on sole sourcing as a procurement tool as a way of reducing corruption in the country.

“Anything you do by sole sourcing is not the most efficient. When you sole source, you are not getting the best competitive rate.”

The policy adviser stressed that the NDC government over taxing Ghanaians, making it difficult for individuals and businesses in the country to thrive.

According to him, the many taxes imposed on Ghanaians by the John Mahama led administration has collapsed many businesses with some being forced to move from Ghana and invest in neighboring countries.

“Taxes are a burden, a drag to the development of an economy. Taxes have a smaller multiplier in terms of growing the economy than consumption or investment so government through tax spending is not an efficient use of resource for businesses. It leaves them with less capital to invest and to expand their businesses because taxes constitute a cost of business,” “The taxes are too many, they are dragging investments down, they are making the cost of doing business in this country prohibitive.

He said an NPP government under the leadership of Nana Akufo-Addo will shift the focus of economic policy away from taxation to production to boost the local economy.

‘Stop sole source’ 

The Chairman of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Kwaku Agyemang Manu has asked government to stop the practice of sole-sourcing in awarding contracts for national projects.

According to him, sole-sourcing is the root cause of most of the corruption scandals that has hit the Mahama government.

He said According to him, sole sourcing is the root cause of most of the corruption scandals that has hit the Mahama government.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NDC abusing sole-sourcing rule for personal gain – NPP appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.