Thomas Nyarko Ampem
Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has called on stakeholders in the procurement sector to fully adopt the Public Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS) in order to help uphold fiscal discipline.
Speaking at the 11th Public Procurement forum in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Minister said the continued reform of Ghana’s procurement system is important to ensuring effective public procurement processes.
He indicated that next year would mark three decades since the country first embarked on comprehensive public procurement reforms noting that the enactment of the Public Procurement Act 2003 (Act 663) and subsequent amendments, including those in 2016 and 2025, laid the legal foundation for a transparent, fair, and accountable procurement system.
“These reforms are not merely legislative changes, they represent a fundamental re-engineering of processes, anchored in digital transformation, through the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS).”
He also stated that public procurement is not only meant for administrative purposes but a strategic tool that shapes government spending and drives the country’s economic growth.
According to the Minister, Public procurement accounts for between 13 to 20 percent of Ghana’s GDP, with over 40 percent of the country’s total domestic revenue for 2025 expected to pass through the procurement system.
That, he explained, highlights the importance of ensuring that procurement processes are conducted with the highest standards of transparency and accountability.
He further expressed the government commitment to integrating procurement systems and ensuring compliance with established frameworks to prevent leakages and ensure that every cedi spent serves its intended public purpose.
Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Frank Mantey, for his part said electronic procurement is useful in addressing corruption and improving efficiency in public procurement.
He cited the example of South Korea where e-procurement has over the years supported the growth of Small Medium enterprises (SMEs)
The PPA boss also added that “Incorporating e-procurement into Ghana’s procurement landscape will allow us to keep pace with global trends and reap the benefits of digital transformation.”
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah