Forum on open contracting held in Techiman
The Ghana Anti Corruption Coalition (GACC) in partnership with the Hewlett Foundation and the Africa Freedom of Information Centre, has organised a day’s forum on Open Contracting at Techiman, the Bono East Regional capital last Friday
The GACC in collaboration with the Techiman Municipal Assembly (TMA), Local Accountability Network (LANet) and the Centre of Posterity Interest Organisation (COPIO) are implementing the project titled, “From Disclosure to Impact: Deepening and Broadening Open Contracting in Africa”.
Miss Faustina Adjabatey, the Project and Communication Officer of GACC, said the project was the second contract monitoring report on health and education sectors in the Techiman municipality, for the fourth quarter of 2021.
She disclosed that the forum brought together Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), media practitioners, officials of the Techiman Municipal Assembly and other identifiable groups to deliberate on the project report.
The project officer noted that members of LANet undertook its second monitoring and follow-up exercise to assess the level of information disclosure on public contracts and procurement documents, on health and education projects being executed.
“There is increasing evidence from rigorous studies in countries that open contracting contributes to better value for money, increase competition, fighting corruption and better services, ” Miss Adjabatey emphasised.
She expressed worry about how 10 out of 19 projects information requested by the team as given by the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS), were not responded by the TMA.
Miss Adjabatey said one of the major challenges hindering citizens’ involvement in contracting is the menace of reactive disclosure, where limited information was provided upon request saying that in some cases, no information was provided.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of COPIO and the Project Focal Person, Mr Mustapha Maison Yeboah, indicated that the focus of the contract monitoring and follow-ups was to assess progress made by the assembly towards open contracting.
He added that the team proposed necessary recommendations to the Municipal Assembly for corrections to improve disclosure of public contracts information for an improved participation of citizens on awarded projects.
Mr Mustapha said the team visited Tanoanafo, Nsuta, Traa, Sapukrom and Hansua communities to inspect classroom projects and Community- based Health and Planning Services (CHPS) compounds among others.
“We have recommended to the Assembly to publish full information of all projects on the website of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) and also Information on contracts must be readily available upon request,” he implored.
FROM EMMANUEL ADU GYAMFI, TECHIMAN
