Procurement Masterclass
Participants at the 2026 Procurement Masterclass organised by KRIF Ghana Limited have
commended the programme for providing practical knowledge and fresh perspectives to help
improve procurement practices and professional performance.
More than 100 procurement professionals and business practitioners from leading public and
private institutions participated in the Masterclass, which was held under the theme “Buying
Better: Cost, Quality, Risk & Total Value in Workplace Procurement.”
Participants were drawn from institutions including the Bank of Ghana, the Office of the
President, the Ghana Police Service, Tobinco Media Group and the Ghana Health sector, among
other organisations.
The strong institutional representation provided an opportunity for professionals from different
sectors to exchange experiences, discuss real workplace challenges and explore practical
approaches to improving procurement performance.
Practical lessons
Millicent “Mimi” Gidisu, Deputy Manager at the Energy Commission, said the programme had
enhanced her understanding of procurement planning and sustainable procurement.
She said procurement professionals needed to look beyond the price of goods and services and
consider value for money, sustainability and proper asset management.
“The facilitators were very good, and the sessions were very interactive and practical,” she said.
Ms. Gidisu recommended the Masterclass to other procurement professionals and encouraged
KRIF Ghana to continue organising the programme.
She also suggested that future editions could be organised as residential programmes to give
participants more time for learning, interaction and networking.
Maxwell Ackah, Procurement Head for the Southern Sector of DBS Industry, also described the
Masterclass as a valuable opportunity for professional development.
He expressed appreciation to KRIF Ghana for investing in the careers and capacity development
of procurement professionals.
Moving beyond price
The Masterclass challenged participants to rethink the traditional approach of focusing primarily
on the lowest price when making procurement decisions.Management and Procurement Consultant, Kobina Atta Bedu, cautioned against “maverick
buying”, which he described as unplanned purchasing outside established procurement systems
and procedures.
He said such practices could undermine an organisation’s strategy, spending controls and
financial performance.
Mr. Bedu challenged procurement professionals to understand their organisations beyond their
immediate departments by studying their corporate objectives, vision, values and business
strategies.
He said procurement professionals needed to understand the “bigger picture” and translate
corporate strategies into appropriate procurement strategies.
He further explained that organisations pursuing cost leadership may require procurement
strategies focused on competitive pricing, while businesses pursuing differentiation may need to
place greater emphasis on quality and other factors that provide competitive advantage.
Procurement as a strategic function
Executive Chairman of KRIF Ghana Limited, Rev. Kennedy Okosun, challenged procurement
professionals to continuously upgrade their knowledge and move beyond viewing procurement
as merely an administrative function.
He said professionals needed to understand finance, operations, technology, strategy and
leadership if they were to become effective contributors to organisational decision-making.
He also urged participants to focus not only on price but on quality, risk, efficiency and total
value.
According to Rev. Okosun, KRIF Ghana’s four decades of experience working with institutions
had reinforced its belief that effective procurement leadership could have a direct impact on
organisational performance.
Emotional intelligence and leadership
International Development Consultant and former USAID Chief of Party in Zambia, Maggie
Lada, identified emotional intelligence, curiosity and sound judgement as important qualities for
procurement professionals seeking to progress into leadership positions.
She said professionals must be able to build relationships across departments, manage
disagreements professionally and remain collaborative while protecting procurement standards.
Ms. Lada said technical knowledge and attention to detail remained essential, but emotional
intelligence became increasingly important as professionals advanced into middle and senior
management.
She encouraged procurement managers to approach their superiors not only with problems but
also with possible solutions.She also urged professionals to cultivate curiosity and think creatively about how procurement
regulations could support broader organisational objectives.
Hands-on learning
Unlike conventional training programmes that rely heavily on classroom presentations, the KRIF
Masterclass incorporated practical learning through a Procurement Challenge Lab.
Participants worked in teams to solve a realistic procurement scenario, taking the exercise from
the planning stage through to contract award.
The programme also featured sessions on professional development, procurement beyond the
lowest price, the hidden costs of cheap purchases and practical approaches to supplier evaluation.
Participants further engaged in an action-planning session and networking activities designed to
help them translate the lessons into practical steps for their respective organisations. Certificates
of participation were presented at the end of the programme.
The organisers said the Masterclass was designed to strengthen the competence of procurement
professionals, broaden their strategic outlook and equip them with practical approaches capable
of delivering greater value to their organisations.
With participants drawn from financial services, government, security, media and healthcare, the
programme also provided an opportunity for cross-sector learning and professional networking.
