Public procurement is the process through which hard-earned taxpayers’ monies are used to better the lives of its citizens. Contemporary public procurement has gone beyond just buying goods, works, and services. Developed countries like the France, Singapore and the United Kingdom (UK), for example, are now using public procurement to mitigate climate change, fight corruption, bribery, human trafficking, child labor, etc.
Kerkula G. Mulbah, [email protected], Contributing Writer
Public Procurement: The Liberian Scenario
Public procurement in Liberia accounts for the largest portion of the country national budget (approximately 60%). Prior to the establishment of the Public Procurement & Concessions Commission in 2005, public procurement was done solely by the General Services Agency of Liberia. This single oversight did not yield the needed reforms in the public financial management sector of Liberia. Major donors like the World Bank at the time could not invest in Liberia due to lack of best practice to public procurement standards.
The Government of Liberia saw the gaps and the lack of trained professionals to handle public procurement introduced a number of procurements training interventions, including the Intensive Procurement Training Program (IPTP); the amendment and restatement of PPCC Act of 2005; etc.
PPCC Under James Dorbor Jallah
Dorbor ‘The Integrity Idol’ left a high standard at PPCC. ‘Skip’, as he is affectionately called, served this integrity agency for four years. During his leadership at PPCC Dorbor laid a solid foundation that the new Executive Director can build on. In my opinion, Dorbor’s strength was building and empowering a professional team at PPCC. ‘The first rule of accessing the intelligence of a leader is to look at the caliber of people around him’.
My last interaction with ‘Skip’ was at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in August 2018. I had gone to explain some critical Concessions my entity was implementing and Dorbor was called to corroborate some of the information I provided as lead procurement person at the time. I am an FMTP/IPTP trained…therefore, I have read PPCC guidelines from cover to cover. It was my walking stick.
Dorbor had a clever way of answering difficult questions. If ‘Skip’ was placed in a difficult compromising position, he would explain the laws in simplest terms using Liberian ‘koloqua’ and sometimes rhetorically rephrasing the question to the public official like this (speaking slowly): ‘This is what the law says…and if we don’t follow what is written, these are some of the bad things that can happen…hospitals might not get the needed drugs, roads would not be built correctly due to ‘kro-kro-gee’ (shady) contracts…do you want us to bend the laws?’ However, if the public official was stubborn, Dorbor would not argue further, but quietly goes to his office and tells his team to do the right thing. I term this as the silent bulldog approach to following public procurement reform. Dorbor had intelligently and respectfully shown the public official the sign: ‘Beware of Bull Dog’. The ‘2018 Integrity Idol’ would not hesitate but to literally bite. I can recall during the second tenure of former president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf when lawmakers took brand new vehicles from suppliers (without going through a transparent procedure) and wanted the government to pay, Dorbor stood his grounds and said once there was no competitive bidding the vehicles should be returned or paid for by the honorable lawbreakers… ooh sorry, lawmakers.
Public Procurement Under the Pro-Poor Government
Liberia’s public procurement accounts for approximately 60% of the country national budget. This is a huge amount that can achieve so much if the right policy objectives are pursued. To be honest, no public procurement goals can be achieved without adequate political support. Liberia needs a radical president if the country must develop. Radical in the sense of doing the right things (e.g. dismissing corrupt officials and asking for restitution through the court). Mr. President if you close your eyes while public officials steal in broad daylight, posterity will judge you! How do you want to be remembered? Depleted Central Bank Account? 25 million vanished in thin air with no trace or accountability?
Advice to the New PPCC Executive Director
Mrs. Jargbe Roseline Kowo has come to the new post with lot of experience to move the integrity institution to another level. However, that depends on whether she has thicker skin than her predecessor. To maintain the integrity of PPCC, make sure to have your letter of resignation already written like Dorbor did. When faced with making the wrong decision, the only thing you have to do is insert the date of your resignation.
On the day of her official induction into office (April 5, 2019), I read countless of criticism about how you would succumb to the whims and caprices of the new regime; and that your husband is the current Comptroller of Liberia, etc. I think it is too early to join the bandwagon of criticisms.
Madam Director this is the time to proof your critics right or wrong. The future of succeeding generation rest on the DECISIONS you will make. Remember the decisions you take in keeping with the laws can either enhance Liberia’s healthcare delivery or help crumble to its already broken knees; it can either enrich the already privileged and leave many Liberians impoverished due to shady procurement or Concessions deals. Kids in my village (‘Gbanju’, Lofa County) who have never seen asphalt pavement (‘kota road’) could fulfil their dream of seeing one through the decisions you take. Until you prove yourself others, I trust your ability to do the right thing, or you can choose to be a TOOTHLESS BULL DOG…fearful but powerless.
About the Writer:
Kerkula G. Mulbah is a public procurement and Concessions specialist. He holds Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Political Science (Hon); Post Graduate Diploma in Public Procurement Management (High Distinction), MPA (Candidate) and currently a 2018/2019 Chevening Scholar pursuing Masters (LLM) in Public Procurement Law & Strategy at Bangor University (UK). Email: [email protected]