Combating Public Sector Corruption in Ghana: The Case of the Public Procurement Act (2003) Act 663

Abstract

This study sets out to assess the capacity of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) to combat public sector corruption in Ghana. The study notes that the Act has encouraged competition among bidders for public contracts and enhanced the level of transparency at the tendering process. Structures have been created to harmonise the procurement process to ensure judicious use of public funds. The law has standardized procurement procedures in the public sector. However, the study observed politicisation in the procurement process and manipulation of the tendering process by public officials and contractors. Procurement entities rarely adhere to guidelines set by the Act. Poor contract management, weak sanctioning regime and improper disposal of assets have undermined the capacity of the law to deal with corruption in public organisations. The use of sole sourcing by public institutions has aided corruption rather than stopping it. To address these shortcomings, the mechanism to strengthen contract supervision and monitoring will prevent shoddy works and the delivery of low quality goods. Also, de-politicisation of the procurement process would ensure that competent people are hired by politically independent and neutral organisation such as the Public Services Commission to handle the process. Guidelines for sole sourcing and disposal of assets should be enforced by the Public Procurement Authority to check their abuse by public sector institutions.