Training on New Public Procurement Reforms Underway

The Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA) yesterday commenced a two-day training workshop for private and public sector on the new public procurement reforms in The Gambia.

The workshop is taking place at Corinthia Atlantic Hotel in Banjul.

The forum is aimed at strengthening the authority's efforts to reform public procurement through the creation of a more efficient and accountable public in conformity with the GPPA Act 2001 and regulation of 2003.

It also aims to address key challenges faced by suppliers as it relates to bidding and other GPPA procedures.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Amadou Kebbeh managing director GPPA, revealed that the capacity building strategy is based on a systemic approach underscoring the inherent variations and linkages that characterise the development of a pool of professional procurement practitioners and suppliers capable of applying international best practice in the acquisition of goods and services, and to ensuring that they are guided by the spirit of "value for money" and a vibrant private sector poised to provide qualify goods and services.

Dr. Kebbeh highlighted that public procurement is at the heart of business relations between government and private sector. "It becomes imperative that Government establishes a possible mechanism for the dispensation of public funds in a cost-effective manner," he said.

According to Dr. Kebbeh, his possibility of any procurement system depends on the prevalence of sound principles of good governance manifested through an efficient and effective public service delivery system.