Ensuring sustainability in public procurement in Ghana: A case study at cape coast technical university

Abstract

Importance of the application of sustainability in public procurement in Government educational institutions globally, is well-documented. This study examined the application of sustainable procurement at Cape Coast Technical University. A sample size of thirty one respondents, made up of staff of the institution in departments concerned with procurement, selected using census sampling. The analysis was undertaken quantitatively using frequency and percentage tables. The study revealed that though sustainability standards are applied in procurement at the university, most of the staff in other departments apart from the Procurement Unit, need more education in sustainable procurement to appreciate the need for sustainability in the procurement system. The study also revealed that not only is sustainability ensured in the procurement system of the university by procuring most of the sustainable goods and services from small scale local suppliers, attempts are always made to procure sustainable goods to ensure their longevity. Among the recommendations made, are; the university should observe sustainability in the various steps of purchasing cycle for instance when identifying need, drawing of specification, selecting and awarding contract to suppliers or contractors and also practice sustainability in the consumption of the items procured. Management of the institution need to organize workshops on sustainable procurement for the staff and reduce the problems that hinder sustainable procurement at CCTU. It went on to explain what sustainable procurement is by describing what sustainability is and it’s important for the growth and survival of public organisations and institutions. There was a discussion of the nature of procurement in Ghana before promulgation of Ghana’s Public Procurement Act (PPA Act 663) of 2003 and the amended Act 914 of 2016 which ironed out some of the challenges in the Act 663.