24 August 2023
Government suppliers which fail to enrol on Ghana’s e-procurement system are set to lose the opportunity to fulfil government contracts.
Ghana’s Public Procurement Authority (PPA) deputy CEO, Kwame Prempeh, said that suppliers who had not yet enrolled in the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS) would effectively lose the ability to do business with the government.
In a speech to the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE) he was quoted as saying by state newspaper The Graphic that suppliers not onboard the system could not be assured of receiving payment for government contracts or technical support.
Prempeh told attendees that since GHANEPS was rolled out in 2019, over 660 procurement entities had enrolled on the system.
Under the PPA’s roll-out plan 15 entities are due to join the system per month.
Prempeh said that the GHANEPS platform ensured that suppliers ensured a better chance of receiving rapid payment for government contracts and that the system would enhance transparency by limiting the number of contracts awarded without approval.
GhIE president, Kwabena Bempong, said the introduction of the GHANEPS would reduce the number of corrupt suppliers trying to take advantage of the system.
“When it comes to procurement in general, the underlining word is fairness, value for money and to ensure that there is transparency,” he said.
“So, with the introduction of the GHANEPS, the procurement process will be enhanced and (we will) reduce… human interference.”
Meanwhile this week in Ghana’s near neighbour Nigeria, a coalition of anti-corruption civil society organisations have organised a roundtable discussion to try to reduce corruption in public procurement.
Groups including the Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative, CISLAC, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice and the Human and Environmental Development Agenda will join other stakeholders at the event.