Minister of State responsible for Public Procurement, Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo, has rebuffed questions directed at her about procurement method used by MASLOC to award a GH¢28.8 million contract to a private firm, Dextro Impex, for the supply of 1,800 used vehicles.
The Minister also warded off a question about VOKAKOM and the Ghana Post GPS with respect to whether other companies tendered in bids.
She argued that the Office of the Minister of State in charge of Public Procurement exists only to advise the President on government procurement policies and strategies.
According to her, her office therefore does not have the mandate and locus to answer questions on procurement in Parliament and that such questions should be directed at the sector Ministers.
Adwoa Safo was responding to questions that stood in the name of member for Ashiaman Hon. Ernest Norgbey, who claims the contract awarded to Dextro-Impex Company Limited, did not go through competitive bidding.
Hon. Adwoa Safo indicated that per the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) and (Act 914) as amended, Public Procurement Authority (PPA) is the regulatory body charged with the mandate of granting procurement approvals and ensuring compliance with all relevant procurement rules and processes.
The PPA, she said, is as agency legally placed under the Ministry of Finance.
She stated that every Ministry is mandated to procure in accordance with the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) and noted that with respect to VOKAKOM, the Ministry of Communications is an entity competent to undertake its own procurement.
A dissatisfied Ernest Norgbey described the MASLOC arrangement as illegal and stressed that there was no reason to sole-source the contract for the supply of the vehicles.
He argued that the MASLOC boss exceeded his authority to enter into that deal because when the contract was signed there was no board in place.
He lamented that is constant talk about sole sourcing and fighting corruption and therefore is worrying that one CEO can take a decision to award a contract worth GH¢28.8 million.
By Osumanu Al-Hassan/uthmanhass@gmail.com
GH Bulletin 