The-meet the-press series is a media encounter between sector ministers, heads of department, government officials on one hand and journalists on the other hand. It is a weekly event organised by the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.

It is a platform that government officials use to explain programmes and policies of their respective sectors to the press. After presentation, journalists also take turn to ask questions to get clearer understanding of the sectors and their policies which are to be disseminated to the general public.

It was the turn of the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Mr Agyenim Boateng Adjei. He stressed the need for the enactment of the PPA Law in Ghana, saying it had ensured transparency, efficiency, probity and accountability in how government money is spent in the country.

Before the enactment of the PPA Law in 1998, as there were no legal procedures by which the public procurement followed, it posed a lot of short fallings within the Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

In the light of this, it is expected that the PPA will ensure that the MDAs, suppliers and contractors adhere to the law and do the right thing at the right time to avoid misappropriation of public funds. This would ensure that the scarce resources that are available could be used judiciously for development of the nation.

During question time, media personnel fired various questions to ascertain some facts and to seek further clarifications to some issues raised by the Chief Executive Officer.

A journalist, for instance wanted to know whether the PPA Law covers services or work which are within the purview of civil servants but given out as contracts to private consultancies for chargeable fees.

The Response was that civil servants have their areas of schedule which could be effected for fees even after working hours.

Another journalist also pointed out that at times the MDAs create artificial shortage of bidding forms.

Mr Agyenim Boateng, gave the assurance that such eventualities would be forestalled in the near future.

Doubtlessly, the Meet the Press programme has given an opportunity to public officials as well as media practitioners to interact face to face to talk about issues of material interest. It is also goes further to strengthen the democratic dispensation currently being enjoyed by the people of Ghana

By Zakari Musah (ISD)