DCE unhappy with Public Procurement Act

Kyebi (E/R), March 18, GNA- The East Akim District Chief Executive, Mr Emmanuel Victor Asihene has expressed concern about the composition of the District Tender Committee under the Public Procurement Law of 2003.

He explained that, there was no provision for representation of members of the District Assembly, adding, "such development could create mistrust, suspicion and agitation between assembly members and the District Chief Executive".

Mr Asihene, therefore, proposed to the Assembly to adopt as a rule that, the Presiding Member would be invited to observe meetings of the District Tender Committee and report to members when necessary. He was addressing the First Ordinary Session of the District Assembly at Kyebi on Friday.

Under the Local Government District Tender Board Establishment Regulation 1993 L. I. 1606, district assemblies had three representatives on the Board, namely the Presiding Member, the Chairpersons of Works and Finance Administration Committees. Under the new Public Procurement Act 2003, the membership of the District Tender Committee is made up of the District Chief Executive as Chairman, the District Finance Officer, a lawyer, a Member of Parliament and three heads of department.

Mr Asihene announced that all preparatory work for the final take-off of the District Health Insurance Scheme had been completed and by June, this year, registered members would start enjoying the full benefit.

He said last year, the Assembly projected over 1.181 billion cedis revenue from its traditional sources but managed to collect 1.025 billion cedis representing an increase of 20 per cent. Mr Asihene said the Assembly had instituted very stringent measures to ensure real growth in revenue generation and challenged the members to get more involved to raise more money to run the Assembly and facilitate development.

He said 400,000 cedis out of the 1.2 billion cedis worth of the 2003 Hi-tech Cocoa Fertilizer supplied to some farmers had not been paid and appealed to the defaulting farmers to repay to help sustain the programme.

The Presiding Member, Mr Seth Asiedu Asante, called on the members to redouble their efforts to help the Assembly to expand its revenue base. 18 March 05