MONROVIA – On Tuesday, May 28, authorities of the Public Works Ministry admitted to missteps and procedural errors in the implementation of a $22 million road works project under President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s 100-day deliverables. This admission was detailed in a report delivered by the joint senate committees on the awarding of contracts.
The Public Works Ministry acknowledged that they executed the task without following the proper procurement processes. This significant oversight was addressed in the report, where the Ministry confessed to bypassing essential steps mandated for the awarding of contracts.
In response, the senate plenary accepted the apology from Public Works Minister Roland Giddings. While the plenary considered the actions as inadvertent missteps with good intentions aimed at the national interest, they issued a warning letter to the Minister of Public Works, the Minister of Justice, and the Executive Director of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC).
The plenary’s acceptance of the apology was conditional. They stipulated that Minister Giddings must address concerns related to the re-awarding of contracts to existing contractors and ensure budgetary allocations for roads already completed by various companies are properly accounted for.
The senate’s decision underscores the importance of adherence to proper procurement procedures to maintain transparency and accountability in government projects. The Public Works Ministry’s commitment to rectifying these errors and adhering to established protocols in future projects will be closely monitored to prevent similar issues from arising.
The admission by the Public Works Ministry highlights a crucial learning point for government bodies in the execution of large-scale projects, emphasizing the necessity for strict compliance with procurement guidelines to foster trust and ensure effective use of public funds.
