Monrovia-Vice President Joseph Boakai says overall perception on the openness of the public procurement system has improved significantly from 2013-2016. The vice president’s statement follows findings from the Procurement Client Perception Survey 2013-2016, by the Public Procurement and Concession Commission. The survey was aimed at obtaining feedback on the implementation of the amended and restated PPCC Act.
The 2016 survey strictly focused on the level of perception to which public procurement clients consider the system to be.
The Vice President urged those in the public sector to continue striving to make the sectors corruption free, saying “we consider this a huge leap and it can only be credited to the steps that we have taken as a government to fight corruption as public enemy number one. Even with this progressive increase, I would like to admonish us not to rest on our oars, but to work to continuously improve upon those numbers until we exceed the recommended performance standard, thereby setting a new standard for others to uphold.”
Speaking over the weekend at the launch of the 2016 Public Procurement Clients Perception Survey Report in Monrovia, he said he considers the report a tool that seeks to foster open governance, a demonstration of willingness for unceasing progress and a hallmark for championing transparency in Liberia.
“This survey, which I understand gauged the perception of a cross section of individuals directly and indirectly involve with the public procurement system, is very important for several reasons. When a government interacts with its citizens to understand public perception, it demonstrates goodwill for continuous improvement,” Vice President Boakai averred.
He further described the report as a demonstration of strides taken by the Unity Party led administration towards strengthening economic governance in the public sector, thus encouraging other units of government to conduct similar exercises in moving Liberia forward.
The report, the Liberian Vice President noted, will go a long way in showing that the PPCC is a focused methodical and progressive institution seeking to deliver the best quality of service to citizens in the country in keeping with its mandate.
“I am very appreciative of the fact that without any tenancy, the PPCC opened up itself to public scrutiny in such an objective manner so as to be able to obtain feedback in order to make things work better for our people. This spirit in government must be applauded and promoted,” the VP added.
The Liberian Vice President however appreciated the USAID Governance and Economic Management Support Project for providing funding and technical assistance for the survey and at the same time lauded the Public Procurement and Concession Commission for its achievement that is geared towards bolstering public confidence in Liberia.
Also addressing the gathering on behalf of the USAID Chief of Party, Mohammed Jawara said the launch of the survey will ensure much improvement in the public sector in promoting compliance for money and value.
Jawara wants the next survey on Public Procurement and Concession Commission to be more efficient than the 2013 and 2016 report.
At the same time, PPCC Board of Commissioners Chairman, Professor Willie Belleh says the entity has been strengthened through assistance from partners including USAID, lauding them for the effort thus far.
The client perception survey report, according to Professor Belleh, is an important institutional development tool that will promote check and balance periodically on prospects and challenges faced by the procurement sector.