The Chairman of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, James Klutse Avedzi, is pushing for the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to undergo parliamentary vetting.
He believes this step is crucial for combating perceived corruption and enhancing accountability within the PPA.
This advocacy comes after the committee identified procurement as a primary channel for corruption in the public sector.
In a recent interview with JoyNews, Mr. Avedzi suggested that amending the appointment process for the PPA head could help tackle the misuse of the sole-source procurement model.
He also highlighted the impact of low salaries for PPA leaders, which he feels increases the potential for corruption.
“The appointment to that position as a Chief Executive or Director General of Public Procurement Authority, we should look at it again. If I am appointed by a political head, and that political head, there is a request through a sole sourcing that doesn’t satisfy the condition and that political head puts a call through saying work on that, what will you do?
“Those sensitive positions must be appointed through a competitive bidding process. Advertise, let people apply – parliament can vet the person.”
He has advocated for filling such sensitive positions through a competitive bidding process, suggesting that advertisements should be posted and applicants vetted by Parliament.
Additionally, Mr. Avedzi emphasized the importance of establishing a fixed tenure for the CEO, arguing that defined term limits would empower the appointee to act with integrity and make independent decisions, ultimately promoting accountability in the role.