-As PPCC Signs e-GP Contract



By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I

In the quest to improve public procurement sector, Liberia Public Procurement and Concessions Commission on Wednesday, November 21, 2023 officially signed the Electronic Government Procurement Contract.

Hon. Brodger Scott Johnson, the executive director of the PPCC described the signing of the electronic procurement as a reforrn journey that
will positively affect the procurement landscape of Liberia to as to enhance Natíonal developrnent across
the country.

“This is a reform journey that will positively affect the procurement landscape of Liberia to as to enhance Natíonal developrnent across
the country.”

Johnson stated that the contract and monopoly commission was birthed as an offspring to reform the overriding objectives of any national public procurement system and is to deliver economic efficiency and value for money in the use of public funds, while adhering to fundamental principles of accountability.
Adding that it seeks to enhance integrity, fairness and transparency.

In his deliberation, he provided that the coming into being of the e-GP is to
improve the efficiency in government spending, improved governance and through this public confidence in government spending that will lead to better public policy development and overall economic growth.

He adds that its specific benefits include shorter procurement cycles,
simplification of processes, lower transaction costs and lower prices.

In continuation, he intimated that the significance of the Signing Ceremony in recent years, is something that more African governments are looking to implement e-GP solutions to address some of the challenges associated with public procurement.

The PPCC executive director further outlined the harmonizing internal processes to optimize their execution, and increasing transparency and traceability, Generating financial gains, and as well as facilitating access to public procurement for all economíc actors. He stated that the importance ceremony is show the effort of the Government of Liberia, and development partner’s commitment to ensuring that the Public Procurement and Concessions Processes conforms to international best practices that will yield national development and tackles anomalies
affecting its functionalities.

“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 Processes conforms to international best practices that will yield national development and tackles anomalies affecting its functionalities.”

The PPCC executive director lauded the government for taking pride in the transformation of the procurement system in its quest for improved public service delivery to all of its citizens and similarly promote inclusive resource distribution.

At the same time, Benedict Kanu, Liberia Country Manager, African Development Bank revealed that the AD-Bank took the leading steps with Liberia in its quest to establish the electronic procurement platform for the public procurement system, and through the bank institutional support interventions.

The African Bank country manager added that the ceremony is a testament that the Liberia and its partners have come a long way to get to this vantage point in the road map of the e-GP agenda. However, he reiterated that there is even more ahead to be achieved if everyone sustains the commitments to the successful end of the e-GP.

He further stated that the benefits of the e-GP cannot be over emphasized, because there are overarching development’s objectives of the e-GP.
Adding that the e-GP agenda is to ensure a transparent, efficient, effective and accountable public procurement system that guarantees higher performance and stakeholder confidence in public contracting processes.

Meanwhile, the world bank country manager Georgia Wallen asserted that the success of the e-GP project will not be measured by its implementation only, but by its impact on Liberia’s public procurement
system.

He stressed that the project holds immense potential to transform the public procurement landscape in Liberia, and foster value for money, transparency, efficiency, and accountability.

He added that the end game is about ensuring that scarce taxpayer dollars are used in ways that deliver tangible benefits for Liberians.

In conclusion, she assures the Government of Liberia and other stakeholders that the World Bank is strongly focused on supporting the government in improving the efficiency and oversight of public procurement.

“I want to assure the Government of Liberia and other stakeholders that the World Bank is strongly focused on supporting the government in improving the efficiency and oversight of public procurement. At this juncture, the timely delivery of the e-GP system in Liberia is paramount.
With less than a year left before the closure of the project, swift, decisive, proactive and timely action will make all the difference.” She added