Kumasi, May 9, GNA - Professor Agyemang Badu Akosa, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has called on stakeholders to help address issues militating against procurement procedures.

He said there was the need for all to be very transparent and committed to hard work to eliminate fraudulent practices and secure value for money in the public sector. Prof Akosa was opening a three-day annual retreat in Kumasi on Monday for procurement managers of the GHS. Regional supply officers, procurement officers and pharmacists manning regional medical stores in the 10 regions were attending the workshop.

Prof Akosa told the participants to work effectively and harmoniously and change their old ways of doing things to offer quality services to the people.

He urged them to work within the Procurement Act, saying, "if you go out and fall victim to the law you will face the full rigours of the law". Mr Kwasi Addai Donkoh, Director, Supplies, Stores and Drug Management of the GHS, said his outfit would soon embark on regional tours to review the procurement procedures and that budget management centres found to have wilfully violated the rules will face sanctions. Mr Donkoh said he was aware of several acts of mis-procurement deliberately perpetuated to cheat the system and stressed the need for the participants to evolve strategies to stop the practice.