Publication: Ghana : Country Procurement Assessment Report, Volume 3. Annexes 1-7
Date
2004-06
ISSN
Published
2004-06
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
This report highlights a broad array of
poor procedures and practices throughout the tendering and
contract management process, which have been the cause of
many of Ghana's public procurement problems, and where
most of the leakages in public procurement funding occur and
substantial savings could be realized. Most of the
procedural anomalies are now being corrected by the Public
Procurement Act (PPA), which includes the new regulations
for the procurement of goods, works, and consulting services
to be applied by all Procurement Entities. The provisions
for standard tender documents and standard request for
consulting proposals being completed, will detail the
general principles embedded in the PPA, including evaluation
and selection criteria. Standard contract documents, also
being completed, will streamline current problems with
contracting and payment procedures, labor standards, and
dispute resolution. Good procurement manuals and training
should leave no room for lack of understanding by
procurement staff. The positive results on the ground depend
largely on how well the new policies are put into practice
and the extent to which this is done without political
interference to the contrary. The application of the PPA and
the Standard Tender and Contract Documents will not be
successful without a broad training and
"refresher" program and encouragement of officials
in charge of procurement. Oversight and review functions are
critical to exercising good procurement fiduciary management
and Ghana is taking the necessary measures to strengthen it.
Some recommendations include improving procurement planning
and budgeting; value for money; contract management; stores
management, record keeping, ensuring use of modern labor
standards in works contracts, securing as soon as possible
the necessary external financing for training, developing
clear procedures for the prior and post review of
procurement activities, putting in place an effective
sanctions system; having competent experts do procurement
audits separately, providing for capacity building,
enforcing the code of conduct for civil servants and ethics
codes, and involving the private sector and the media by
making it aware of the various means in the national laws by
which it can contribute to preserving transparency and accountability.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“World Bank. 2004. Ghana : Country Procurement Assessment Report, Volume 3. Annexes 1-7. © Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/15640 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”