Gov’t to Professionalise Public Procurement with New Bill – Deputy Finance Minister Discloses
The Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has revealed that Cabinet is currently considering the Procurement Practicing Bill, a legislative framework designed to professionalise the procurement function, curb malpractices and embed sustainability and anti-corruption safeguards.
Speaking at the National Procurement and Supply Conference in Accra on Saturday, September 20, 2025, under the theme “Transforming Public Procurement for Sustainable Development: Policies, Practices and Pathways,” Mr Nyarko Ampem said the Bill is expected to elevate procurement to a strategic national function while raising professional standards.
According to him, the measure is aimed at addressing the billions of cedis lost annually through procurement irregularities, which have become a major drain on the public purse.
Citing a recent Ghana Institute of Procurement and Supply (GIPS) report, the Deputy Minister noted that the country loses approximately GH¢2.36 billion each year due to procurement breaches. He described the losses as a diversion of scarce resources that could otherwise finance hospitals, schools and climate-resilient infrastructure.
“Why are we spending more on inefficiencies and infractions than on the most vulnerable in our society? Procurement inefficiencies rob us of opportunities to create jobs and expand access to critical services,” he stressed.
Mr Nyarko Ampem highlighted common irregularities including unauthorised procurements, inconsistent evaluations, poor supervision and vague specifications deliberately tailored to favour certain suppliers, warning that such practices undermine development and erode public trust.
He further disclosed that government had already amended the Public Procurement Act to make commencement certificates and budgetary allocations mandatory prerequisites for all central government-funded procurements.
As part of reforms, the Ministry of Finance has also established a Public Financial Management (PFM) Compliance Division to enforce adherence through the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS).
