Finance Minister inaugurates new PPA board
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has tasked the newly inaugurated governing board of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to champion transparency, enforce value for money, and reverse the growing trend of sole sourcing in public procurement.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Accra, Dr. Forson congratulated the board members on their appointments and called for strong and decisive leadership in an area he said has significantly strained national finances.
He expressed serious concern over the prevalence of inflated and improperly awarded contracts, stating, “Government is paying billions because of the way contracts are awarded.” He questioned the persistent pattern of excessive contractual commitments by state institutions and stressed the need for a fundamental shift in procurement practices.
Dr. Forson highlighted recent amendments to the Public Procurement Act as a tool to curb abuse and urged the board to enforce compliance.
“Be bold and reject some sole-sourced contracts,” he stated emphatically, warning that sole sourcing must remain an exception and not become the norm.
The Minister underscored competitive tendering as the standard approach and urged the board to lead by example, adding that a new office focused on promoting value for money in public projects would soon be established to reinforce prudent fiscal oversight.
Board Chairman, Basil Ahiable, expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama and the Finance Minister for the opportunity to serve. He pledged the board’s commitment to professionalism and legal compliance, asserting, “The board will not rubber stamp inappropriate decisions.”
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