PNC promises to review Procurement Act

The People’s National Convention would review the Public Procurement Act (PPA) to ensure transparency and strict compliance as part of measures to curb corruption, Dr Edward Nasigrie Mahama, the Presidential Nominee of the party has said.

He said the mode of appointment of management and staff of PPA would be evaluated to ensure quality, neutrality, efficiency and incorruptibility and also decouple the office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Justice.

Dr Mahama said this at the Institute of Economic Affairs dialogue platform dubbed: “Evening Encounter with Presidential Candidates,” for parties to outline their vision for the November polls.

He said the party would provide adequate resources to fund the Economic and Organised Crime Office, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice and other anti-corruption agencies to deal effectively with cases of corruption.

On the energy sector, Dr Mahama said the PNC would develop a National Energy Consumption Profile (NECP) and invest in emerging efficient renewable energy options such as solar, Waste to Energy, wind and Ultra Efficient Mini Hydro.

He explained that communities with lowest intensity energy consumption derived from the NECP would reduce the burden on the National Grid by shifting to efficient Renewable energy options such as solar.

The flagbearer said when given the nod, the PNC would establish a Municipal Waste Generation Profile that would be useful in building Waste to Energy Plants in communities with excessive waste generation potential.

He explained that it would improve upon the Energy mix and promote development through green, reliable and affordable energy delivery.

He said the party would strengthen the Public Interest and Accountability Committee to facilitate the process of capacity building, public awareness and transparency in the management of the country’s oil and gas industry.

“We will create an additional exclusive transparency agency charged with contracts and procurement within the oil and gas sector.

“The PNC will also strengthen the governing boards of State Owned Enterprises and insulate them from government vested interests, so that they can be more effective in their oversight roles,” he said.

Dr Mahama said the party would pursue an Accelerated Science and Technology Programme that would see the establishment of a National Science and Technology Village in the nature of the Silicon Valley of the US.

He said the party would also set up a National Labour Office to provide accurate and up to date statistics on labor, because there are no reliable data on labour in the country, which makes it difficult for effective planning.

“The Labour Office will also be responsible for providing employment information to the public as well as offer career and or employment guidance and counseling to those who wish to enter the labor market,” he said.

On water and sanitation issues, Dr Mahama has pledged to provide more incentives for private participation in waste collection, and widen and intensify the scope of the National Bin Programme with emphasis on waste separation by households and commercial entities.

“We will also introduce a National Sanitation Guards Programme that will police our environment to ensure enhanced sanitation,” he said.

Dr Mahama said the PNC government would pursue a coordinated and systematic programme of a "Gradual shift Away" from rain fed agriculture and adopt climate smart approach to the sector. This shift will see the pursuit of a radical National Irrigation Programme.

This programme would contain such projects as desilting of silted irrigation dams, digging of new ones, identification and development of new irrigation sites across the country.