According to her, she was not engaged in the process of procuring the said vehicles from Detrox Impex Company Limited, the company that allegedly sold the vehicles to MASLOC for  GHc28.8 million.

The Minister said this in response to an urgent question filed in Parliament by the Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Ernest Norgbey.

[contextly_sidebar id=”pL2uPN3k0b2VBYXpfgLEgKZ3vFXWupwo”]MASLOC has been accused of purchasing some 1,800 vehicles from Detrox Impex  through sole-sourcing for GH¢28.8 million without recourse to procurement processes.

According to the Ashaiman legislator, the contract, which was awarded to the private firm did not go through competitive bidding.

He insisted that the contract should not have been sole-sourced, saying it is illegal.

“At the time that these contracts were signed, there was no board in place, but the CEO took it upon himself to do all these things. We keep talking about sole sourcing and fighting corruption, but if one CEO can take the decision to award a contract worth GH¢28.8 million, then there is every cause to worry,” he said.

Meanwhile, responding to the issue in Parliament today, Wednesday, Adwoa Safo asked the MP to redirect the question to the Minister for Finance.

“My office does not undertake procurement for any Ministry. Every Ministry is mandated to procure in accordance with the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).”

“Per the Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) and (Act 914) as amended, Public Procurement Authority (PPA) is the regulatory body charged with the mandate of granting procurement approvals and ensuring compliance with all relevant procurement rules and processes. The PPA as [an] agency [is] legally placed under the Ministry of Finance.”

She said “…in accordance with the Standing Orders of Parliament, all questions ought to be directed to the Ministry of Finance.”

However, the Ashaiman MP was unhappy with the Minister’s response, questioning why she was appointed Procurement Minister if she cannot answer questions on the subject matter.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the said contract the MP is complaining about is non-existent because it has already been abrogated over similar procurement concerns.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The Chinese Government also said it was excited about the gains made by the Ghanaian Government in the area of public procurement ever since it assumed office in January 2017.

“We were very impressed by the figures the President gave during his message on the State of the Nation”, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Sun Baohong said when Madam Adwoa Safo paid a courtesy call on her at her office in Accra last Wednesday, February 21, 2018.

Among the notable gains touted by the Akufo-Addo administration, the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) received 394 sole sourcing applications but approved 223, representing 56.6% and rejected 171 applications, representing 4.6%.

In 2016, the PPA received 622 sole sourcing applications but 577 were approved, representing 98% while 25 applications were rejected.

“So, comparatively, for sole sourcing alone, the approvals that we gave in 2017 was 56.6% compared to 98% in 2016. That is a very impressive way to start”, Madam Adwoa Safo told the Chinese Ambassador.

On restrictive tendering, the PPA, she added, received 346 applications in 2017 but only 164, representing 48% were approved while a total of 179 applications, representing 52% were rejected.

In 2016, the PPA received 592 applications on restrictive tendering but 587, representing 99.15% were approved while only 5 applications were rejected.

“If you compare in our case for restrictive tendering, we approved 167 applications, representing 48% in 2017 while in 2016 99.15% were approved. The figures are so clear. If we open our eyes on restrictive tendering and make sure we set our eyes to protect the public purse, we can do it because, for a year, we’ve been able to do it”, she said.

In response to this, Madam Baohong assured that the Chinese Government was committed to helping Ghana fight corruption.

She said the Chinese Government advised its businessmen and women wanting to do business in Ghana to do so in a very legal way so that there will be peace and harmony between the two countries.

Madam Baohong also assured the Public Procurement Minister of the Chinese Government’s willingness to supporting her ministry’s capacity building programs in China to equip the personnel with the requisite knowledge and skills to perform efficiently.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The figure dropped from 622 requests in 2016 to 394 requests in 2017. This means there was a 228 drop in the number of sole sourced contracts applied for within the one year period.

President Akufo Addo disclosed this during his encounter with journalists at the Flagstaff House on Wednesday, January 17, 2018.

In his view, this is an indication of his government’s commitment to sanitize the Public Procurement system and give value for money.

Of the number applied for, 577 representing 98% were approved with 29 of them rejected.

In 2017, government approved 223 or 56.6% out of the 394 sole sourcing requests presented to it.

On the other hand, 171 of the requests representing 43.6% were rejected.

Restricted contracts drop by 42%

Meanwhile in 2016, the erstwhile NDC government approved 587 or 99.15% of all restricted tenders that were requested for.

This translated into zero savings on the requests put forward.

In 2017 however, restricted tenders also declined by 246 or 41.5%. The figure went down to 346 from 592 requests.

The President also indicated that, the decision by the NPP administration has led to government saving 145 million cedis, 142 million dollars, €1.8m and £23,400.

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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

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The two-day event, organized by South African giants TS Capital (PTY) LTD, with support from the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, will be held at The Ghana Academy of Arts & Sciences on July 26 and 27, 2017.

It is expected to bring together industry experts from across the African continent for supply management and logistics professional development, training and networking.

Click here for the full list of speakers, including ministers of state from Ghana.

Known to many simply as “The Leading Supply Chain Event,” this Conference continually sets the bar for supply chain events around West Africa, says TS Capital executive, Thabani Sibanda.

This event convenes leading, cross-sector educational content; where the profession’s best and brightest converge every year.

Speakers at this year’s event, amongst them celebrated Ghanaians, are successful practitioners, experts in the field, sharing what works, who’s best-in-class and the tools required to implement significant improvements within an organization.

Ten sessions are expected to be taken at the Accra event and will cover the areas of Emerging Practitioners; Supply Chain Management Fuelling Growth; Global Supply Chain; Career Development; Talent Management; Business Acumen in Supply Chain; Logistics; Global Economic Indicators; Big Data, Analytics and Best Practices in Indirect Spend.

Mr. Sibanda said, “This is a conference at which West African suppliers will be able to learn about corporate policies, operations, and projects as well as procurement policies and procedures from senior procurement executives.

This is a definitive procurement and supply chain event which has a core focus intact – a determination to deliver development and learning in private and public procurement and supply chain management in West Africa.”

Aviation Minister Cecelia Abena Dapaah will be speaking at the event.

According to him, participants stand to gain enormous benefits that will have a lasting impact on their organizations and personal development.

Some of the benefits, he said, will include, opportunities to gain fresh insight into hot procurement and supply management topics; Guidance from expert speakers, procurement professionals and business leaders; a chance to raise your profile and develop new contacts during networking events; Meetings with international suppliers and discovery of innovative products and services; and Mining company procurement presentations.

President of Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport, Ghana, Ebo Hammond is one of the Speakers.

Topics to be treated during the two-day event will include: The role of procurement in achieving national goals, provincial objectives and Supply Chain Management reform; How procurement is driving real worth to the bottom line, and value to the top line; The next level of supplier development and taking collaboration across industry sectors; Why the practice of incubating suppliers will only succeed with a collaborative model; Placing a magnifying glass on you and your supplier among others.

The Conference organisers say “the entire transport infrastructure value chain has the opportunity to participate at this year’s convention as exhibitors: public sector bodies, transport authorities and parastatals, contractors, engineering agencies, research & knowledge institutes, industry associations and suppliers of infrastructure products and services.”

Mr. Sibanda, who is Business Development Executive & Commercial Partnership said there are varied reasons why participants must exhibit at the Convention.

Some of the reasons, he stressed, include the fact that the event is the gateway to the West Africa and Sub-Saharan market place; it helps exhibitors touch base with their target market and share their latest products and services; it creates access to high-level decision makers and personal contact with them; generates new sales opportunities within West Africa and sub-Saharan Africa as well as serve as an avenue to showcase professional development and enhance your corporate reputation and brand image.

“Efficient Supply chain and logistics management,” Mr. Sibanda said, “are a driver of West Africa’s sustainability, growth and development.”

At the same time, efficient management of resources, collaboration, proper procurement procedures and risk management are the key factors that determine the creation of standard supply chain in West Africa.

Mr. Thabani Sibanda explained that “Local and International supply chain executives cannot ignore the African market.

Africa’s growth, expected to average six percent by 2020, will be fuelled by growing domestic demand, infrastructure development and an increase in continental trade.

With endless supply chain and logistics opportunities available as Africa places itself squarely in the middle of the global value chain, now is the time to assess opportunities and risks in the local markets and exploit opportunities that avail.”

The convention’s targeted participants are Chief Executive Officers, Chief Procurement Officers, heads of Supply Chain/Procurement/Sourcing, Commodity Managers, Logistics Managers, Category Managers, General Managers, Inventory Controllers/ Managers, Administrators, Purchasing Managers and operations Managers amongst others.
Sponsorship and Speaking Opportunities

The organisers say the forum will confer on sponsors “absolute authority and quality status in the transport and supply chain industry.”

In view of this, it will establish a sponsor as the pro-active industry player, and will “offer you unrivalled cost-effective and dedicated marketing exposure and brand recognition among key players in the industry. This is an unrivalled platform that presents you with an opportunity to develop a relationship with potential business and finance partners.”

Companies desirous of participating are expected to contact the organisers at [email protected] or [email protected].
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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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[contextly_sidebar id=”00xwwHhJJGyK1OWU5yRRUowcfVOUForA”]According to him, public procurement has been strengthened with the inception of new structures such as the Due Diligence Unit, Procurement Audit Unit among others at the Procurement Authority to enhance value for money in all public sector transactions.

Speaking at a Special training session on the Public Procurement Act, Dr Bawumia urged public procurement officials to exhibit the highest standards of integrity.

“Over the years we have all been witnesses to how aspects of fiscal governance in the country has not been carried out with the expected discipline and dedication for good outcomes. We have seen and heard of incidents of abuse of the procurement processes especially the reliance or the influence of sole sourcing.Sole sourcing is actually quite legal and there are circumstances under which it is necessary and it should not be abused.  I also wish to recognize the good work the Public Procurement Authority is doing especially in the introduction of the current interventions at the PPAs such as the establishment of the due diligence unit and the soon to be rolled out key government procurement system.”

Dr Bawumia in the run up to last year’s elections chastised the then Mahama Administration for allegedly ripping the State off through dubious sole-sourced contracts.

He argued that, sole sourcing allowed corruption, and benefited a privileged few in the NDC government.

A few months after the New Patriotic Party took over the helm of affairs, Dr. Bawumia pledged to cut down on sole sourcing by introducing the public procurement act to ensure value for money.

MP calls for more power for procurement authority

The Deputy Majority Leader of Parliament, Adwoa Safo, had earlier also called for the amendment of the public procurement act to give the Procurement Authority, the powers to conduct value for money auditing on sole-sourced projects.

She described as sad, revelations by the Auditor General’s annual reports that 80 percent of the procurement malpractices are centered on sole sourcing.

“From 2012 to 2014 when I was on the public accounts committee, about 80% of their recommendations to parliament were procurement malpractices… So I think that if the law is there, you need also a policy direction. And I think that, that is the first step that the president has given us in his state of the nation address.”

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By: Marian Ansah & Duke Mensah Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The post We’ll resolve procurement infractions – Bawumia appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Her name was among a list of four new ministers of state at the presidency/ministry that was presented to Parliament for vetting and approval.

The other three ministers of state appointed include, Minister of State at the Office of the President, Brian Acheampong, Minister of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Nurah Gyeile and Minister of State at the Ministry of Education in charge of Tertiary Education, Kwesi Yankah.

This brings to 14, the number of persons appointed by President Nana Akufo-Addo as Ministers of State at the presidency, with 26 others serving as substantive ministers, bringing the number to 40.

The President also on Wednesday, named 50 persons as Deputy Ministers. In all, the President’s ministerial appointments come to 110, the highest since the fourth Republic.

What will be Adwoa Sarfo’s role?

It is unclear what the role of Adwoa Sarfo would be at the Presidency in charge of Public Procurement, considering that the Public Procurement Authority already exists.

The NPP while in opposition argued that, sole sourcing allowed corruption, and benefited a privileged few in the NDC government.

Adwoa Safo, a professional lawyer with specialization in Procurement Law, is thus perhaps expected to push for major changes in public procurement.

She once worked as the first legal officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) for two (2) years, and was very instrumental in the formulation of the proposals that formed the basis for the creation of the Appeals and Complaint Panel of PPA, and the change of the name Public Procurement Board to Public Procurement Authority.

Adwoa Safo calls for more power for procurement authority

At a recent news conference in February, she advocated for the amendment of the public procurement act to give the Procurement Authority, the powers to conduct value for money auditing on sole-sourced projects.

She described as sad, revelations by the Auditor General’s annual reports that 80 percent of the procurement malpractices are centred on sole sourcing.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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