…as maiden National Procurement & Supply Conference ends in Accra

Deputy Chief of Staff, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, has urged stakeholders in the procurement and supply ecosystem to embrace ethical and sustainable practices that will position the profession at the frontline of nation-building—a dependable lever to underpin government’s growth aspirations.

“Procurement is an engine of sustainable development and social impact when managed ethically and professionally; but when compromised, it drains national progress, undermines institutions, and erodes public trust,” she said.

Delivering a keynote address at the maiden National Procurement and Supply Conference (NPSC) in Accra, she stressed that procurement remains one of the most powerful levers of fiscal discipline, local industry promotion, and public trust.

“Let ethics be our compass, professionalism our tool, and sustainable impact our goal. Together, let us reimagine procurement and supply not only as transactions but as engines of Ghana’s transformation,” she added.

The two-day conference on the theme: “Reimagining Procurement and Supply for Sustainable Development and Economic Resilience”, convened policymakers, seasoned procurement, supply chain and logistics experts as well as academia and industry to brainstorm practicable strategies that promote impactful, ethical and sustainable procurement practice in Ghana.

Panelists and speakers unanimously proposed the development of a workable procurement policy framework that will facilitate the effective and sustainable sourcing of goods and services to underpin government’s 24-hour economy programme.

According to seasoned procurement experts, the enactment of a binding procurement policy document with strategic systems and guidelines for public procurement would engender responsible and value-based sourcing for sustainable development.

“A working procurement policy framework will improve overall supply chain resilience, which is a direct link to sustainable development,” the speakers posited.

The conference also called for a paradigm shift towards targeted procurement that prioritizes localized sourcing to entrench industrial competitiveness, job creation and national development.

President of the institute, Dr. Simon Annan, in his opening address, implored government to prioritize reforms that will digitize procurement to tackle related infractions and place local businesses at the core of its procurement strategy.

“Procurement is not a back-office function; it is frontline nation-building function. We must reimagine procurement not just as a process of buying, but as a powerful tool for delivering value, integrity, and sustainability,” he said.

As nations grapple with economic headwinds, climate change, technological disruption, and shifting trade dynamics, Dr. Annan called for innovative, transparent and efficient supply chain to create jobs, strengthen local industry and protect the environment.

Mr. Annan added: “We must move from cost-centric procurement to value-driven procurement; from fragmented supply chains to integrated, digital, and sustainable ecosystems; from short-term transactions to long-term partnerships that drive national competitiveness.”

NPSC 2025 featured detailed paper presentations and insightful panel discussions that shed light on emerging trends in the procurement landscape, the need to legislate the practice of procurement in Ghana as well as making procurement the pivot of the government’s flagship 24-hour economy programme.