By Abu Bakarr Turay, MCIPS (CS), CMILT, CPP
Procurement and Supply Chain Professional/Associate Lecturer/Consultant/PHD Candidate in Development Studies (Procurement Logistics and Supply Chain Management)
Freetown, August 20- Every year, governments across the globe spend trillions in public funds to procure and deliver essential goods and services, whether in leones, dollars, cedis, pounds, or euros. These expenditures underpin the functioning of the state and the well-being of its citizens from constructing and maintaining roads to building schools and hospitals, supplying medical equipment and digital infrastructure to outfitting police forces.
Being that the money comes directly from taxpayers, the way it is spent must not only be efficient but also transparent and accountable. Behind these transactions lies a powerful engine of national progress, the Public Sector Procurement. It plays a critical or decisive role in the procurement of essential services for the state. Far more than a routine administrative task or clerical process, procurement is a pillar of good governance. It determines whether citizens experience real tangible benefits from the taxes they contribute to nation building and whether public trust in institution is earned or eroded.
What is Public Sector Procurement?
Procurement in the public sector refers to the process by which government departments, local councils, and state-owned institutions acquire goods, works and services with the aim of maximizing value for money. Unlike private procurement, which is primarily focused on profit and competitiveness, public procurement exists to support government operations and deliver essential public services.
The central goal is not only to obtain what is needed but also to ensure that the process of awarding contracts is carried out in a fair, transparent, and cost-effective manner. Public procurement, therefore, is guided by stringent regulations designed to protect public resources from mismanagement or abuse. In many countries, contracts above a certain value are subject to detailed oversight, ensuring they are awarded based on clear procedures rather than discretion or favoritism.
Why Public Procurement Matters
The importance of procurement in the public sector cannot be overstated. It is more than just a government function, a powerful tool for reshaping society. In Sierra Leone public funds come from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), and every transaction must demonstrate value for money, accountability, and transparency. Citizens expect that their contributions will translate into improved roads, reliable electricity, quality education, digitalizing public services and effective health services that directly affects citizens lives, other than mismanaged and misappropriated or diverted into private use at the expense of the state. These decisions determine not only the quality of public infrastructure but also the trust people place in their institutions.
Public procurement also serves as a strategic lever for economic growth. Governments often use procurement policies to empower local industries, promote sustainable practices, or encourage innovation. For example, giving preference to local contractors in infrastructure projects (domestic preference) can stimulate domestic job creation, while green procurement policies can promote environmental sustainability.
Ultimately, the credibility of government institutions often rests on how well they manage public funds. When procurement is effective, it not only delivers services but also strengthens trust in governance. Public procurement is where policy meets practice, and where citizens see the real-world impact of their contributions.
Public vs. Private Procurement: Key Differences
Although procurement occurs in both public and private sectors, the underlying objectives, funding, and oversight mechanisms differ significantly.
• Purpose: In the private sector, procurement is designed to maximize profit and support business competitiveness. In contrast, public procurement aims to support government operations and provide social goods such as education, healthcare, and security.
• Funding: Private procurement is financed by company revenues, shareholders, or owners. Public procurement, however, is funded by taxes, grants, and loans obtained by governments.
• Regulations: While private procurement is largely guided by internal company policies and commercial law, public procurement must follow strict regulations that stipulate approved methods, tender processes, and evaluation criteria.
• Scrutiny: Public procurement is subject to higher scrutiny, as taxpayers, oversight bodies, and watchdog institutions demand accountability. Private companies, by contrast, answer mainly to shareholders and boards.
• Accountability: Procurement professionals in the private sector report to management. Public procurement officials, however, are public servants, and their accountability extends to the wider citizenry and legislative institutions.
These differences explain why public procurement tends to be more complex, often requiring elaborate tender procedures and compliance with procurement acts or financial regulations.
Challenges in Public Procurement
Despite its importance, public procurement faces numerous challenges. Bureaucratic procedures can sometimes slow down the delivery of essential goods, works and services. Stringent regulations, while necessary for accountability, can create administrative burdens that delay projects. Moreover, public procurement is often vulnerable to corruption, favoritism, or political interference, which undermines efficiency and erodes public trust.
Additionally, the balance between transparency and efficiency is a delicate one. While lengthy tendering processes ensure fairness, they can also slow down urgent projects such as disaster response or critical healthcare interventions. Striking this balance remains one of the most pressing dilemmas for procurement practitioners and policymakers.
Opportunities and the Way Forward
Despite the challenges, public procurement presents unique opportunities to transform governance and development. When properly managed, it ensures not only that money is spent wisely but also that the government can leverage procurement for broader policy goals.
1. Strengthening Transparency: Digital procurement systems, or e-procurement, are now widely recognized as tools that reduce corruption, increase competition, and ensure public visibility of contracts.
2. Promoting Value for Money: By adopting total cost of ownership principles considering not just the purchase price but also maintenance, sustainability, and lifecycle costs, governments can achieve real efficiency.
3. Building Local Capacity: Procurement can be used strategically to support local suppliers and small businesses, promoting inclusive growth.
4. Driving Innovation and Sustainability: Governments can adopt green procurement strategies, sourcing environmentally friendly goods and supporting long-term sustainability goals.
For countries like Sierra Leone and others across Africa, public procurement reforms have already begun to transform the landscape. By embedding principles of fairness, competition, and accountability, governments can foster both trust and efficiency in public service delivery.
Conclusion
Public sector procurement is more than a financial activity; it is an instrument of governance and development. Managed well, it ensures that public resources are transformed into tangible benefits for citizens. Managed poorly, it risks waste, corruption, and the erosion of public confidence.
As taxpayers demand greater accountability, and as governments seek to do more with limited resources, public procurement will continue to be a focal point of reform and innovation. By embracing transparency, efficiency, and sustainability, procurement can truly become a driver of good governance and national progress.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The writer, Abu Bakarr Turay, MCIPS (CS), CMILT, CPP, is a procurement and supply chain professional with over 14 years of experience in public sector procurement, logistics, and contract management (engineering procurement and contracting). He is an Associate Lecturer in procurement logistics and supply chain management at IPAM, USL, LICCSAL Business College and the Civil Service Training College of Sierra Leone. He is a Chartered Member of both CIPS and CILT and is currently pursuing a PhD in Development Studies (with specialization in Procurement, Logistics and Supply Chain Management.)
