The Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has called for the public procurement system to be used strategically to create markets for local industries, support local production and accelerate the nation’s industrial growth.
He said the government’s annual procurement expenditure should go beyond providing goods and services for public institutions into creating jobs, strengthening local businesses and retaining value in the economy.
Dr Forson said this in an address delivered on his behalf by the Coordinating Director of the Ministry of Finance, David Klotey Collison, at the second edition of a national procurement and supply chain conference in Accra.
The two-day event was organised by the Ghana Institute of Procurement and Supply (GIPS) at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) auditorium, in collaboration with its strategic partners.
The event was on the theme: “Powering industrialisation: Smart, inclusive and resilient procurement and Supply Chains for National Development.”
The conference brought together procurement professionals, policymakers, business leaders, academics and development partners to explore practical strategies for making procurement and supply chains more responsive to national development.
Expenditure
Dr Forson said the government spent billions of cedis each year on goods, works and services for schools, hospitals, security services and other public institutions, creating significant demand in the economy.
“The government does not only spend; the government creates markets,” he added.
The minister explained that the nation could not build sustainable prosperity by exporting raw materials, importing finished products and treating public expenditure as separate from domestic production.
He, therefore, called for public procurement to be linked to industrial policy to create reliable markets for local businesses, encourage investment, deepen value chains and generate employment.
Dr Forson said businesses were more likely to invest in machinery, technology, workers and certification when they were assured of credible and predictable markets.
He, therefore, said commitment to local procurement must be measurable, with the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS) being used to track the number and value of contracts awarded to Ghanaian firms, their delivery performance and their ability to compete in export markets.
Strategic procurement
The minister identified agriculture and food processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles and garments, construction and digital services as areas where strategic procurement could strengthen local value chains.
For instance, procurement by schools, hospitals and security services could connect farmers to processors, packaging companies, cold-chain operators and transport businesses.
Role of procurement
The President of GIPS, Dr Simon Annan, said the conference provided an opportunity for stakeholders to examine the role of procurement in national development.
He said GIPS had pursued professionalisation, institutional growth and stakeholder engagement to strengthen the procurement and supply chain profession.
Dr Annan said membership of the institute had increased from about 2,000 in 2025 to approximately 3,000 in 2026.
He said that a proposed Procurement Profession Bill had been forwarded to the Office of the Attorney-General for consideration, and expressed optimism that the process would be completed and the bill passed by the end of the year.
The Council Chair of GIPS, Evelyn Sam, said procurement should be viewed not merely as a transactional or administrative function, but as an economic instrument capable of supporting local enterprises, stimulating innovation and creating employment.
For her part, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Gas Company Limited, Judith A. Blay, called for greater opportunities for women-owned businesses and youth-led enterprises in supply chains.
