Standards and ethics committee for procurement practitioners launched

The Minister of State in charge of Procurement, Sarah Adwoa Safo has inaugurated a cross-sectional committee tasked to formulate a code of ethics and standards for procurement practitioners in the country.

The committee which is made of representatives from Ghana Surveyors Association, Public Procurement Authority, and Ghana Bar Association etc are tasked to formulate the code of ethics within a period of 3 months.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the minister said, the only way to achieve Ghana Beyond Aid is when corruption is checked in public procurement and possible conflict of interest and attain value for money in all procurement activities.

“Ghana Beyond Aid vision of the president can only be achieved if we check corruption in public procurement and possible conflict of interest and attain value for money in all our procurement activities,” she said.

According to her, the codes of ethics has come at a very good time to compliment the licensing of all procurement officers.

She said the codes of ethics will be the benchmark for renewing and redrawing licenses of practitioners who fail to abide by it.

“As procurement officers, we should be prepared to be accountable for the decisions we take and legally justify our official decision and actions” adding that “procurement officers shall not use or misuse their position for private gain”

The minister was optimistic that, the codes of ethics when fully functional will prevent dishonest officers from denting the image of the procurement profession.