In
addition
to
the
above
an
Appeals
and
Complaints
process
set
up
in
2007
has
enhanced
transparency
in
the
procurement
process.
Since
its
inauguration,
the
Appeals
and
Complaints
Unit
has
considered
29
(administrative
review)
ranging
from
various
procurement
complaints
such
as:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Wrongful
manipulation
of
specifications
Discrimination
in
the
award
of
contracts
Unfair
treatment
in
the
tender
process
Wrongful
termination
of
contract
Misrepresentation
of
facts
and
figures
in
evaluation
report
Wrongful
manipulation
of
adjusted
rates
to
out-‐price
a
competing
tender
etc.
Out
of
the
29,
14
have
been
successfully
concluded
with
15
still
under
consideration.
To
ensure
that
there
is
adequate
Human
Resource
to
implement
the
Act,
the
PPA
has
initiated
a
number
of
training
programs
to
improve
the
quality
of
personnel
in
the
procurement
sector.
The
Authority
has
trained
7,000
procurement
practitioners
and
members
of
Entity
Tender
Committees.
There
is
also
medium
and
long
term
training
programmes
being
supported
by
the
Millennium
Challenge
Authority
for
practitioner
with
varied
academic
and
professional
background.
Furthermore
15
–
24
month
training
has
been
designed
for
HND
Purchasing
and
Supply
students.
This
programme
started
in
October
2008
with
the
identification
of
training
institutions.
There
is
also
an
arrangement
for
a
4
year
Bachelor
in
Procurement
degree
to
be
offered
by
Universities
and
Polytechnic.
The
implementation
of
the
Procurement
Act
comes
with
it
a
lot
of
challenges.
A
research
by
Send
Foundation
on
the
School
Feeding
Programme
has
indicated
that
about
58%
of
districts
do
not
comply
with
laid
down
procedures
in
procurement
related
to
the
project.
Some
of
the
reasons
are
attributed
to
cumbersome
and
long
procedures,
non
availability
of
funds
to
enable
competitive
bidding
and
interference
by
high
officials
in
procurement.
There
has
also
been
the
call
by
implementers
to
review
the
threshold
upwards,
reduce
the
cost
of
Tender
documents,
reduce
delays
in
evaluation
of
tenders,
ensure
transparency
in
opening
of
bids
and
reduce
the
2%
bid
security.
54