Assessing ways of improving procurement practices for effective infrastructure delivery by Ghana Highway Authority
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Date
2021-07-09
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Abstract
Procurement is when an organization identifies a need and decides on its procurement requirement
and extend to the ultimate disposal of property at the end of its useful life. Studies have shown that
whiles procurement provides an opportunity for state institutions to use resources judiciously,
numerous challenges still bedevils its existence. Generally, there are numerous public outcries that
state institutions misappropriate public funds during the provision of social services in Ghana. This
study therefore endeavoured to find possible remedies to existing problems associated with
procurement practices meted out by Ghana Highway Authority.
The purpose of this study was to assess ways of improving procurement practices for effective
infrastructure delivery by Ghana Highway Authority. It was also aimed at unearthing existing
procurement practices in the authority as well as the various challenges confronting them. To
achieve this goal, there was an extensive review of literature to understand the existing study on
procurement practices, challenges and ways of improving them. Seventy-eight (78) questionnaires
were administered to various respondents in Ghana Highway Authority. This consisted of 7 each
to all the regional offices and 8 to the head office. It was observed that except for the practice of
e-procurement, respondents agreed that all identified procurement practices were meted out in
GHA. The study identified the consideration of threshold, complexity and the urgent need of a
procurement item as the most ranked procurement practice in GHA. On the other hand, political
interference, delay in release of funds and corruption were agreed by respondents as the most
ranked challenges facing the authority in their procurement activities. Notwithstanding these
challenges, various ways of improving procurement practice in GHA were identified. Less
government interference, adoption of a well-structured electronic system that inculcate all
procurement activities and clearly defined procurement plan covering all procurement items wereiv
identified as the most ranked ways of ensuring proper procurement practice in Ghana Highway
Authority. Politicians and the government were entreated to draw their road sector policies and
projects ahead of time for inclusion in the Authority’s Long-Term Development Plan in order to
ensure consistency with laid down objectives. There was the need for the authority to also fast
track the adoption and implementation of the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS)
which can facilitate effective and efficient procurement practice in the authority
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Construction Technology and Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Award of Degree of Master of Science in Procurement Management.
Keywords
Procurement practice, infrastructure delivery