At installation: Minister challenges e-procurement team to clean public contracts sector.

This was during the installation of the team. The team is charged with leading the ministry’s ambitious e-Procurement Project Management Unit.

It is designed to coordinate the implementation of the dematerialisation of public procurement procedures through online operations.

The team was appointed on April 29 this year. It is composed of Project Coordinator, Ayebong Toh Neba; managers and staff. Neba is from the Information Systems Divisions of the Ministry of Public Contracts. 

Minister Talba Malla said the team will be leading efforts in the digital transformation of the public contract procedures and interoperability. The goal, he said, is to ensure equity, transparency and the continuous fight against corruption in the sector. 

This, the member of government emphasised, “represents both a strong political will and a great opportunity to make a technological leap towards the modernisation of the public contracts sector”. 

Talba Malla said government is putting in place the system of transforming habits in “order to overcome the bad practices noted here and there, that stifle most development efforts of our country”.

The e-Procurement Management system was set up over five years ago. It is a computer software system designed for the management of applications and awards of public contracts to contractors. 

Prioritise transparency, selflessness 

The team was also tasked to be selfless in the exercise of their respective duties. The minister urged the team to continuously prioritise transparency in their mission to clean the public contracts system. He said the officials have as task to deliver on the missions assigned to them.

Efforts must fully reflect gov’t commitment

The work of the team, Minister Talba Malla said, should reflect the commitments made by the government to drastically improve on the services of the public contracts sector. 

This, he said, must be as championed and instructed by the Head of State, President Paul Biya.

He said the International Monetary Fund, IMF, under the fourth review of the 2021 to 2024 economic and financial programme, expects the online awarding of at least 80% in number and value of contracts. He cited areas such as infrastructure, education and health sectors.

He instructed members to ensure that the successes are also reflected in several other domains anchored on what the State calls. 

Challenge taken by members 

The coordinator of the team, Ayebong Toh Neba, said he and his group are ready to diligently deliver on their assignment. 

“This is a very strong team, sufficiently competent and ready. We started working on this dematerialisation activity since 2015. We think it is going to take a different level of speed, beginning today with our installation,” Ayebong stated.

He urged actors in the sector to facilitate their work by collaborating with the management group.

“We will deliver the results. Our only plea is for all the actors in the field to support us by collaborating with the team,” he stated.