News
PPA issues final warning to procurement entities over non-compliance
The Public Procurement Authority (PPA) has issued a final warning to procurement entities that have failed to comply with provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), as amended.
In a public notice signed by the Chief Executive of the PPA, Frank Mante, the Authority said some procurement entities have not fulfilled their legal obligation to publish procurement plans and contract awards on the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS).
According to the PPA, Section 21 of the Act requires procurement entities to publish their procurement plans on the GHANEPS platform and update them every quarter.
Section 31 also makes it mandatory for entities to promptly publish details of contract awards on the platform.
However, the Authority said its review of the GHANEPS system revealed that several entities have failed to comply with these requirements.
The PPA described the notice as a final caution to all defaulting entities and warned that further action would be taken against those that continue to breach the law.
It stated that the names of non-compliant procurement entities will be published after the caution period, and the Authority will apply the appropriate sanctions as provided under the law.
As part of the sanctions, the PPA said its Board will not consider applications for single-source procurement or restricted tendering from entities that fail to comply with the publication requirements.
The Authority further reminded heads of procurement entities that they bear direct responsibility for ensuring compliance with the law under Section 18 of the Public Procurement Act.
It therefore urged all procurement entities to take immediate steps to publish their procurement plans and contract awards on the GHANEPS platform and ensure full compliance with the Act.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Minister for Government Communications, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, has dismissed claims that staff salaries at the Presidency have increased under the current administration, describing the allegation as a “flat lie”.
In a response to a post on Facebook, Ofosu Kwakye said the current staff at the Presidency inherited the same salaries and conditions approved for their predecessors.
He argued that once arrears owed to former Article 71 office holders are paid, the total wage bill for the current administration will actually be lower due to a reduction in staff numbers.
“It is in fact a mathematical certainty that the total amount paid in salaries to the current staff will be smaller compared to yours once your arrears are paid because of the reduction in numbers,” he stated.
The Minister noted that delays in paying arrears to past Article 71 office holders are not new.
“Arrears owed to past Article 71 office holders is nothing new or unheard of. Many others before you have suffered same,” he said.
Ofosu Kwakye also stressed that the salaries and conditions in question were approved by Parliament on 6th January 2025, under the previous government.
He pointed out that the Constitution bars any changes to those salaries until a new committee is set up to determine emoluments for Article 71 office holders under the new administration.
“No such committee has been set up by President Mahama and no alteration has been made,” he clarified.
“So on what basis, apart from pure lies and mischief, can a claim of ballooning be made?” he concluded.
The response follows public debate over the size and cost of the presidential staff, with critics alleging a spike in the wage bill.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, has initiated plea negotiations with the Attorney General’s office in the GH₵30 million Exim Bank fraud case.
Information available to ghanaiantimes.com.gh indicates that lawyers for Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Chairman Wontumi & 2 other accused have formally written to the Attorney General to enter into plea negotiations on the charges of defrauding by false pretenses, money laundering, and intentionally causing financial loss to a public body.
A plea bargain, under Section 162C of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) (Amendment) Act, 2022 (Act 1079), allows an accused person to plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for a reduced sentence.
The agreement must be approved by the court after the Attorney General assesses factors such as the strength of evidence, recovery of state funds, and public interest.
Wontumi is facing four counts after his arrest by the Economic and Organised Crime Office in May 2025.
Prosecutors allege he used forged documents to secure a GH₵30 million facility from the Ghana Export-Import Bank to finance equipment for his mining company, Akonta Mining Ltd.
The state further charges him with money laundering and causing financial loss to the state.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and was granted GH₵50 million bail with two sureties. The case is currently before the Accra High Court.
The Attorney General’s office is yet to confirm whether negotiations will proceed.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
