A decade’s analysis of procurement processes from 2011 to 2021 has shown that public boards have lost some GH¢850million to procurement irregularities, a joint report by IMANI and the African Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) has revealed.
The amount, the think-tanks said, is different from the value of financial irregularities recorded by state corporations and other statutory institutions – as well as stores of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) within the same period.
The report, on the theme ‘Is Ghana’s Public Procurement System Hurting or Saving’, attributed the loss to absence of standards and professionalism in procurement; lack of PPA laws enforcement; weak safeguard mechanisms; weak internal audit systems; and weak regulatory oversight, leading to increased procurement irregularities.
Other reasons for the high amount of irregularities, the report stated, include flagrant abuse of the PPA Act by public institutions and weak and ineffective contract management.
