A framework for procurement planning in public procurement entities in Ghana
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Date
NOVEMBER, 2015
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Abstract
Public procurement around the world is one major means by which government provide developmental needs for its country. In order to achieve the ultimate goal for public procurement, various reforms have been undertaken especially in developing countries like Ghana. Notwithstanding, it has been reported that challenges are encountered throughout the procurement process notably at the planning stage. Planning generally for goods, works and services entails making future decisions that will have an impact on the procurement need. However, as important as procurement planning is to the success of the process, it has been neglected by public procurement entities especially in the local government sector. The study therefore aimed at proposing a framework for procurement planning in public procurement entities in Ghana. The study adopted a qualitative approach by which qualitative data was collected and analysed. Primary data was collected from respondents by the use of unstructured and semi structured interview guide through face to face interaction. This helped to collect data on the current procurement planning practices in procurement entities. A review of literature identified challenges faced in procurement planning. The target population was procurement officers in all six (6) Metropolitan Assemblies in Ghana. The qualitative data obtained was analysed using the thematic data analysis technique. The study revealed eleven (11) stages of current procurement planning processes that procurement entities undertake to develop their annual procurement plan. In addition, the study identified sixteen (16) challenges faced in procurement planning. Among them are unfamiliarity with regulation, influence on the method of procurement, poor records management, poor coordination between departments, non-participation of key personnel and low ethical standards in procurement planning, small or low thresholds and loopholes in legislative provisions and others. However, some of these challenges were also in themselves causes of the challenges faced. These causes of challenges were therefore grouped into five categories namely; organisational, professional, political, legislative, economic and market conditions. Further, it was found that sustainable procurement planning and risk management were not currently part of the planning process, also there are challenges inherent in the planning process. The study, concludes that a team of relevant personnel should be constituted to undertake procurement planning for every financial year. It is therefore recommended Public Procurement Authority should intensify training programs on procurement process. Further the review should incorporate sustainable procurement planning and risk planning in the process.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Building Technology, College of Art and Built Environment,
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in
partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Philosophy in Procurement Management.