Director for Hybrid Leading-Edge Ltd. Co., Dr. Sheikh Abdul-Muhsin Baafi,has pleaded on government to harness Information Technology (IT) in the fight against corruption.
He premised his call on the litany of challenges Ghana faces currently vis-a-vis combating of corruption and the management of national data.
Dr. Baafi,who doubles as an Islamic Scholar asserted that the onset and proliferation of IT has come with unique opportunity that can address the situation.
Dr. Sheikh Abdul-Muhsin
Per his recommendations, an Electronic Procurement System is a perfect IT tool.
On the foregoing, he advised government to implement a centralized, web-based e-procurement platform.
“The platform should be an open bidding processes where all tenders will be published online with clear specifications and evaluation criteria.”
Dr. Baafi also suggested Audit Trails, Automated Evaluation, Supplier Databases, Integration with Financial Systems etc.
Under Audit Trails, he schooled that every transaction will be recorded, creating an auditable trail that can be easily reviewed.
Touching on Automated Evaluation, Dr. Baafi admonished government to use software to automate the evaluation of bids, reducing human bias.
The IT expert cum Islamic Scholar underscored that, the above recommendations if heeded and implemented will significantly reduce collusion, bribery, and inflated contracts.
He also named implementation of digital payment systems through the promotion of the use of mobile money, online banking and digital wallets for government transactions as an excellent antidote against corruption.
“I recommend that digital payments should be gradually mandated for public services, such as payment of utility bills, taxes, and government fees.
All digital transactions should be recorded and made traceable, making it easier to detect suspicious activities.
Government should also reduce its reliance on cash, which is a major facilitator of corruption.
This can be achieved through the implementation of systems where all government salary payments are done digitally, and all government purchases are paid from bank accounts.”
