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Government resolved to
eradicate waste in the economy – Dr Duffuor
Kumasi, March 25, Ghanadot/GNA - Dr Kwabena Duffour, Minister of
Finance and Economic Planning has pledged Government’s resolve
to remove waste and corruption in the public service.
“The present global financial challenge and the state of the
country’s economy require that every cedi spent is justified and
must bring to the Ghanaian taxpayer best value,” he said
Dr Duffuor made the pledge in a speech read for him at the
inauguration of Northern Sector Office of Public Procurement
Authority (PPA) in Kumasi.
The PPA is an oversight body tasked to regulate public
procurement in the public service to ensure efficiency in the
use of state resources.
He urged management of the authority to complement President
Mills’ administration’s drive to promote transparency and
restore sanity, while committing itself to instil the necessary
public financial management and discipline in public officials
as well as stakeholders.
Dr Duffuor said “We all need to work hard at building an
efficient procurement regime, which would promote market
efficiency, curtail wasteful spending, consolidate private
sector participation and good governance to fulfil Ghana’s quest
to create wealth and reduce poverty to enhance development.”
He explained that Government procurement was not just the least
cost or least quoted, it was therefore important that suppliers
paid special attention to quality of products both locally
manufactured and imported for supply.
“About 70 per cent of the national tax revenue, representing
close to 24 per cent of total national imports is spent on
public procurement, “he added.
Dr Duffuor noted that good procurement practices would save
close to 30 per cent of product cost including quality and
sustainability, adding that this should not be left to chance.
Mr Kofi Asubonteng, Deputy Ashanti Regional Coordinating
Director, observed that the role of PPA was crucial to the
efficient and effective running of government.
Mr Agyenim Boateng, Chief Executive Officer of PPA, said the new
office was not another bureaucratic set-up but a well thought of
process equipped to deliver cutting edge services to public
procurement functionaries.
He said PPA would help contribute to building a healthy economy
to accelerate economic growth.
GNA |
