Procurement Authority develops career path policy

Business page (Daily Graphic), December 17/2008

Story: Charles Benoni Okine

THE Public Procurement Authority (PPA) has developed a policy document as part of measures to institute a definite career path progression for procurement professionals within the public service.
The move is to also ensure that more public procurement officials are churned out to help monitor the procurement process.
The Chief Executive Officer of the PPA, Mr Adjenim Boateng Adjei, announced this at the close of the second international conference of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS).
The conference, which was on the theme “Procurement Excellence Across the Sectors”, brought together more than 140 participants from Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
It was to encourage collaboration, discussions and effective networking of procurement professionals in its bid to expose them to contemporary cutting-edge procurement practices.
Mr Adjei who spoke on the topic, “Procurement Excellence, Ghana’s Perspective” emphasised Ghana’s commitment to build the capacities of public procurement practitioners.
He said, the Authority in 2007 trained over 7,000 practitioners and members of Entity Tender Committees.
Mr Adjei said the authority was also in the process of engaging in other medium and long term training programmes in collaboration with selected institutions to run a four-year Bachelor in Procurement Degree programmes as well as Internship programmes. qualification programmes for Purchasing & Supply graduates from the Polytechnics .
Mr Alexander Akrofi, Chairman of CIPS, Ghana Branch, noted that best practices in procurement and supply chain management could make the difference in corporate profitability as it had the potential to reduce waste and add value, reduce corruption and make resources available for development.
He described procurement as an important tool in ensuring accountability in public service, and urged practitioners to take it seriously.
The President of CIPS International, Mr Bola Afolabi, conferred the title of “Eminent Procurement and Logistics Director” of the Institute on Mr Adjenim Boateng Adjei in recognition of his wealth of expertise and the extent of commitment to the CIPS –Ghana, coupled with his unflinching passion for the procurement profession over the years.
This was followed by an awards ceremony for members who had completed their courses in Strategic Supply Chain Management, and had achieved graduate and corporate membership in the institution.