Information Minister Hails PPCC for Job Well Done
Liberiaís Information Minister, Cletus Sieh, has officially launched the Amended and Restated Public Procurement and Concessions Act of 2005, calling for the full implementation of the Act irrespective of who is involved. The launching ceremony took place at the Monrovia City Hall on Wednesday, October 23, 2010.
Performing the ceremony on behalf of Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, Minister Sieh said the fight against corruption in Liberia, unlike the past is gaining momentum evidenced by the establishment of anti corruption institutions like the General Auditing Commission, Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission among others. He thanked the PPCC for the critical role it continues to play in the fight against corruption. Minister Sieh used the occasion to urge all procuring entities to conform to the PPC Act and conduct their procurement activities in keeping with the law.
The Amendment and Restatement of the PPC Act of 2005 was in response to the recommendations made by stakeholders during the 2008 Annual Procurement Forum regarding the review of the Act to determine areas where amendments were necessary to ensure clarity, efficiency and productivity geared towards achieving the objective of the procurement reform program of Liberia. It was enacted into law by the Liberian Legislature and approved by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, on September 16, 2010, following a scrupulous review process.
Making remarks at the occasion, the Acting Country Manager of the World Bank, Jariya Hoffman, assured the PPCC of the World Bankís resolve to continue providing support to the Government in implementing the Amended and Restated PPC Act. She said such support is aimed at strengthening the public procurement institutional capacity and system in Liberia.
The World Bank Acting Boss accentuated that a well functioning procurement system is critical to sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction because it contributes to increased competition, fairness, transparency and efficiency in the use of public resources. She indicated that the Amended and Restated PPC Act will provide clarity on the various procurement methods, streamline bid evaluation and contract award procedures, and restate the primary policy role of the PPCC.
For his part, the Country Coordinator for Open Society Initiative for West Africa(OSIWA), Mr. Joe Pemagbi, said the Amendment and Restatement of the Public Procurement and Concessions Act of 2005, with enhanced sanctions regime, increased threshold for procurement processes and procedures, reduced ambiguity and harmonization in the mining, mineral and petroleum Act will meaningfully contribute towards promoting integrity in the Liberian society by providing value for money, accountability and impartiality. He pledged his organization continued partnership with various integrity institutions based institutions to compliment the efforts of the PPCC in promoting accountability and transparency.
Stakeholders and partners including European Union, National Investment Commissionís Chairman, Dr. Richard Tolbert, Liberia Anti-Corruption Commissionís Executive Chairperson, Cllr. Frances Johnson Morris, Chairperson of the Senate House Standing Committee on Autonomous Commissions, Senator Jewel Howard Taylor, among others also made remarks at the occasion and expressed their institutionsí readiness to work with the PPCC to implement the reform program.
