Kumasi, March 25, GNA - Dr Kwabena Duffour, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning has pledged Government's resolve to remove waste and corruption in the public service.

"The present global financial challenge and the state of the country's economy require that every cedi spent is justified and must bring to the Ghanaian taxpayer best value," he said Dr Duffuor made the pledge in a speech read for him at the inauguration of Northern Sector Office of Public Procurement Authority (PPA) in Kumasi.

The PPA is an oversight body tasked to regulate public procurement in the public service to ensure efficiency in the use of state resources.

He urged management of the authority to complement President Mills' administration's drive to promote transparency and restore sanity, while committing itself to instil the necessary public financial management and discipline in public officials as well as stakeholders. Dr Duffuor said "We all need to work hard at building an efficient procurement regime, which would promote market efficiency, curtail wasteful spending, consolidate private sector participation and good governance to fulfil Ghana's quest to create wealth and reduce poverty to enhance development."

He explained that Government procurement was not just the least cost or least quoted, it was therefore important that suppliers paid special attention to quality of products both locally manufactured and imported for supply.

"About 70 per cent of the national tax revenue, representing close to 24 per cent of total national imports is spent on public procurement, "he added.

Dr Duffuor noted that good procurement practices would save close to 30 per cent of product cost including quality and sustainability, adding that this should not be left to chance. Mr Kofi Asubonteng, Deputy Ashanti Regional Coordinating Director, observed that the role of PPA was crucial to the efficient and effective running of government.

Mr Agyenim Boateng, Chief Executive Officer of PPA, said the new office was not another bureaucratic set-up but a well thought of process equipped to deliver cutting edge services to public procurement functionaries.

He said PPA would help contribute to building a healthy economy to accelerate economic growth. 25 March 09