Expert proposes 8 solutions to curb public sector procurement irregularities

Procurement expert, Anthony Abotsi-Afriyie, has proposed eight solutions to tackle recurring procurement and contract irregularities in Ghana’s public sector.

In a letter dated August 13, 2025, to the Auditor-General, Abotsi-Afriyie who is a Chartered Procurement and Supply Professional with a Master’s in Supply Chain Management from Coventry University, UK, highlighted issues from the Auditor-General’s 2024 reports which he noted contained persistent irregularities like cash mismanagement, uncollected revenue, and procurement lapses causing significant financial losses.

“The observations made through the audit exercise are similar in substance and form to the same issues highlighted year on year,” he wrote.

With nearly two decades of expertise, Abotsi-Afriyie emphasized proactive measures over reactive remedies.

“More proactive measures can be recommended and implemented to prevent recurrence as seen over the years,” he stated.

Auditor-General must resign over budget error – Nana Kwadwo Agyei

To tackle delayed or defective projects, he suggests comprehensive tender documents with retention and liquidated damages clauses to protect the state.

For payments for unexecuted or under-supplied items, he recommends two-, three-, or four-way matching systems to align payments with verified deliverables.

To address undocumented store items, he proposes standardized documentation like Stores Receipt Vouchers and Goods Receipt Notes.

For issues like incorrect specifications or third-party repairs despite in-house expertise, he advocates including technical training in procurement packages and adopting a coding nomenclature for accurate specifications.

To curb non-compliance, such as unapproved single-source procurement, he recommends structured training for procurement practitioners.

Auditor-General uncovers overstatement of public debt

Abotsi-Afriyie also calls for strict adherence to procurement plans with quarterly reviews to catch deviations early.

For high-value procurements, he advises prioritizing bank guarantees over insurance bonds for performance security, noting that “performance securities issued by banks are more reassuring and offer better guarantees.”

Finally, he urges legislation to set baseline qualifications for procurement staff to enhance professionalism and curb corruption.

Read the letter below:

GA

GhanaWeb's latest documentary, Sex for Fish, that explores the plights of teenage girls in coastal communities, all in an attempt to survive, is out. Watch it below: