Author: Edward Frimpong
University of Science & Technology, College of Architecture & Planning,
Department Of Building Technology
Email: frimedward@yahoo.com
Abstract
The Public Procurement Act of 2003 (Act ) was intended to harmonise public procurement processes, secure judicious, economic and efficient use of state resources and ensure that public procurement is fair, transparent and non-discriminatory. However, this Act has been disturbed by some negative factors in its implementation by most public entities. Ghana National Health Insurance Authority (Ashanti Region) was used as a case in point in this study to examine the factors that militate against the successful implementation of the Act and measures to improve its implementation. Sixty three (63) questionnaires were distributed to the staff of the District Offices of Ashanti Region National Health Insurance Authority. Data was collected using questionnaires, which was then coded and input into a statistical software package before analysis was made. Descriptive statistics and the development of severity index were employed in the analysis for easy understanding and reader comprehension. The study revealed that the Ashanti District offices of National Health Insurance Authority did not comply with the Public Procurement Act (2003) Act 663 . Despite the fact that all the staff were aware of the Act, there was non-adherence to it. There were no trained procurement practitioners of Ashanti District offices of National Health Insurance Authority to oversee their issues of procurement. The National Health Insurance Authority sees bureaucracy and rigidity in the use of the Public Procurement Act (2003) Act 663 of Ghana. Training of procurement practitioners to help with the procurement practices of the National Health Insurance Authority was recommended as well as strict adherence to the Act among others. This study also concluded with recommendations for further research.
