Group Photo at the Inauguration Ceremony of the Governing Board of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDAA) by the former Minister of Finance and Planning, Hon. Dier Tong Ngor on 21st March 2023. Seated in the photo from Left is Mr. Firas Raad, the former World Bank Country Manager for South Sudan, Hon. Justice Agok Makur, the former Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Hon Dier Tong Ngor, the former Minister of Finance and Planning, Hon. Ayi Akol Bol, PPDAAs Acting Chairperson.

The inauguration of PPDAA’s Governance Board followed the issuance of decrees by His Excellency Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic of South Sudan on 17th February 2023 for the appointment of Non-Executive Chairperson, Members of the Board and the Executive Director of the PPDAA.

The Minister in his inauguration speech emphasized on the importance of public procurement to the Republic of South Sudan. “As you may know, public procurement accounts for a substantial portion of the taxpayers’ money, …...  All Citizens of South Sudan are beneficiaries of the public procurement system through public goods and services available and provided in the form of transportation systems, public utilities, educational systems, and medical services and facilities, among others. At the same time, suppliers of these goods and services get income to run their businesses whose multiplier effect includes creation of employment leading to economic growth” 

The Minister directed the Board, amongst others, to ensure that government procurement and disposal procedures are made transparent and less prone to corruption. “….. I direct you to prepare and monitor systems that will ensure that:  there is integrity in the process and arriving at decisions by your Board; integrity in the whole procurement and disposal of assets processes; and integrity by the bidders and public procurement practitioners. The designed systems should clearly spell out the expected level of good conduct by whoever is involved and the consequences for failing to meet the expected level”.

The Minister in his speech acknowledged the role played by Development Partners in reforming South Sudan’s public financial management systems including procurement. He particularly thanked the World Bank for the support they are providing to the PPDAA through the Public Financial Management & Institutional Strengthening (PFMIS) Project being Implemented by the Ministry of Finance and Planning.

The Acting Chairman of the Board, on behalf of other Members, thanked His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic of South Sudan, for appointing them  to be the Members of the Board of Directors of the Authority. The Chairperson had this to say “People of this country have a lot of expectations towards the performance of this organization in putting up a credible public procurement and disposal of assets system that would put to an end to leakages of our hard earned tax payer's money. Our country is struggling to attract resources that are required to bring about development. As Board members of this organization, we promise you that we shall do whatever is within our power and mandate to put up public procurement systems and procedures that will ensure that every penny of our budget that is approved to provide goods and services is spent as intended and that value for money is achieved. We know it is going to be a difficult task, but with the leadership of His Excellency the President and you Honourable Minister we know that it can be done”.