The Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST), Professor Christian Agyare, has met with the University's Procurement Office to discuss measures to strengthen compliance, efficiency and accountability in procurement management.
The Director of Procurement, Mr Duke Agyeman Fredua, congratulated Professor Agyare on his appointment and reaffirmed the Directorate's commitment to supporting his administration in achieving its strategic vision.
He said procurement accounts for a significant proportion of the University's expenditure, making compliance with the Public Procurement Act critical to institutional governance and accountability.
The Director said the Directorate had embarked on sensitisation and educational engagements with user departments to improve understanding of procurement procedures and ensure compliance with statutory requirements.
"Our focus is on compliance because that is what protects the University. We have been engaging our user departments so they understand the provisions of the procurement law and can work within them," he said.
Receiving the delegation, the Vice-Chancellor commended the Directorate for its proactive efforts and urged it to sustain initiatives that strengthen compliance and institutional efficiency.
Professor Agyare emphasised the need to establish stronger monitoring and compliance mechanisms within the Procurement Office to support decentralised procurement processes across colleges and departments.
"As we decentralise procurement, monitoring, evaluation and feedback become even more important. We should not only monitor compliance but also learn from the outcomes so that we continuously improve our systems," he said.
He encouraged the Directorate to continue building the capacity of procurement officers through documentation, standard operating procedures and continuous education to improve service delivery. He said strict adherence to procurement regulations protects both the University and individual officers from audit queries and legal challenges.
"If you follow the rules and keep the right documentation, you can confidently defend every procurement decision. Documentation is critical," he said.
The Vice-Chancellor also pledged to maintain an open-door leadership style that encourages constructive ideas and collaboration in advancing the University's vision.
Story: Abigail Ofori Photos: Isaac Kwaku Duah
