By: H Matthew Turry
MONROVIA: The Liberian government through the Public Procurement Concession Commission (PPCC) and Ministry of Finance has signed the Electronic Government Procurement Contract with funding from World Bank and African Development Bank.
At the official signing ceremony Wednesday, November 22, 2023 held in Monrovia, the government was represented by the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission and Finance Ministry.
Giving an overview of the contract, the Executive Director of PPCC, Bodger Scott Johnson said the agreement gave rise to the reform agenda.
He added that the agenda began with a fact-finding assessment carried out by the World Bank and other partners to establish a procurement system that is transparent and promotes competition.
“The overriding objectives of any national procurement system is to deliver economic efficiency and value for money in the use of public funds, while adhering to fundamental principles of accountability, integrity, fairness and transparency,” Mr. Johnson noted.
According to him, the PPCC embarked on this reform journey that will positively affect the procurement landscape of Liberia to enhance national development across the country.
Also commenting on the significance of the contract, the PPCC Boss said the initiative focuses on harmonizing internal processes to optimize their execution.
Bodger Scott Johnson further named an increase in transparency and traceability, generating financial gains and facilitating access to public procurement for all economic actors.
“This ceremony is important because it shows the effort of the Government of Liberia, and our development partner’s commitment to ensuring that the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission conforms to international best practices that will yield national development and tackles anomalies affecting its functions,” he added.
The PPCC Executive Director also averred that the Liberian government takes pride and remains unwavering on the transformation of its procurement system in its quest for improved public service delivery to all of its citizens and similarly promote inclusive resource distribution.
Also speaking, World Bank Liberia Country Manager, Madam Georgia Wallen termed the signing ceremony as a significant milestone in the bank’s partnership with the Liberian government.
“The signing of the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) Contract, a crucial initiative supported by the World Bank, European Union, and Sweden. The contract that will be signed today aims to deliver the supply, installation, configuration, development, and maintenance of the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) System Software,” she said.
The World Bank Liberia Boss stressed that the delivery of the e-GP system in the country is paramount, adding that swift, decisive, proactive and timely action will make all the difference.
“The project supporting e-GP will close on October 30, 2024, and will not be extended beyond this date. This sets a definite deadline to achieve our objectives and underscores the importance of adhering to the established timelines,” Madam Wallen indicated.
She at the same time recommended to the PPCC to constitute an E-GP Taskforce, noting that the force will be a team of technical experts to champion monitoring and evaluation of the agreed deliverable, as well as contract management.
Meanwhile, Deputy Finance Minister for Administration, Madam Rebecca McGill urged the PPCC to have the project fully implemented because it is donor funding.
She also encouraged the new government upon taking office in early 2024, to consider everything seriously, while admonishing the Public Procurement Concessions Commission Executive Director to effectively and efficiently implement the contract.
According to her, the success of the contract is the success of the country and its people and government.
She called on the local media to monitor the e- procurement contract for the growth and development of the country
“Let us do the right thing whether in the ruling position or opposition because Liberia is all we have,” Minister McGill intimated.
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