The Minister of East African Community Affairs, Pieng Deng Kuol, has called on the Ministry of Finance and Planning to strengthen and empower the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDAA) to improve transparency and accountability in public service delivery.
Speaking during the closing session of the East African Procurement Forum held at the headquarters of the Bank of South Sudan, Deng urged the finance ministry to prioritize the establishment and operationalization of offices for the procurement authority.
“We need the Ministry of Finance to fully empower the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority so that it can effectively carry out its mandate and improve public confidence in government procurement processes,” Deng said.
He noted that a strong procurement institution is essential for promoting transparency, accountability, and efficient use of public resources across the country.
For his part, the First Undersecretary in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Malual Tap, emphasized the importance of building public trust through transparent procurement systems.
“Public procurement must be conducted in a way that reassures citizens that their resources are protected and used responsibly,” Malual stated.
He added that accountability in procurement processes would help strengthen confidence in government institutions and attract greater support for national development programs.
Meanwhile, Ajang Deng Daniel, the Acting Executive Director of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority, assured participants that efforts are underway to establish a strong institution capable of promoting accountability and quality service delivery.
“Our priority is to build institutional capacity and ensure effective implementation of procurement reforms that support transparency and efficiency,” Ajang said.
The East African Procurement Forum brought together government officials, procurement experts, and regional stakeholders to discuss reforms and best practices aimed at strengthening procurement systems within the region.
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