More than 100 procurement professionals and business practitioners have commended KRIF Ghana Limited’s 2026 Procurement Masterclass for providing practical knowledge, fresh perspectives and strategies to improve workplace procurement and professional performance.
The programme, held under the theme “Buying Better: Cost, Quality, Risk & Total Value in Workplace Procurement,” brought together participants from leading public and private institutions to explore how procurement can deliver greater value beyond simply securing the lowest prices.
Participants represented institutions including the Bank of Ghana, the Office of the President, the Ghana Police Service, Tobinco Media Group and organisations within Ghana’s health sector. The diverse representation created opportunities for cross-sector learning, professional networking and discussions on practical workplace challenges.
Participants Highlight Practical Procurement Lessons
Millicent “Mimi” Gidisu, Deputy Manager at the Energy Commission, said the Masterclass had strengthened her understanding of procurement planning and sustainable procurement.
She stressed the importance of looking beyond the purchase price of goods and services to consider value for money, sustainability and proper asset management.
“The facilitators were very good, and the sessions were very interactive and practical,” she said.
Gidisu recommended the programme to other procurement professionals and encouraged KRIF Ghana to continue organising it. She also proposed residential editions of the Masterclass to provide more time for learning, interaction and networking.
Maxwell Ackah, Procurement Head for the Southern Sector of DBS Industry, also described the programme as a valuable professional development opportunity.
He expressed appreciation to KRIF Ghana for investing in the careers and capacity development of procurement professionals.
KRIF Masterclass Challenges Lowest-Price Procurement Decisions
Management and Procurement Consultant Kobina Atta Bedu urged procurement professionals to reconsider purchasing practices that prioritise price without adequately accounting for organisational objectives and overall value.
He cautioned against “maverick buying”, which he described as unplanned purchasing outside established procurement systems and procedures, warning that such practices could undermine organisational strategy, spending controls and financial performance.
Bedu encouraged procurement professionals to understand their organisations’ corporate objectives, vision, values and business strategies so they could translate broader business priorities into effective procurement plans.
He explained that organisations pursuing cost leadership might require procurement strategies focused on competitive pricing, while businesses pursuing differentiation could need to prioritise quality and other factors that create a competitive advantage.
The sessions reinforced the importance of evaluating procurement decisions through cost, quality, risk and total value rather than price alone.
KRIF Ghana Chairman Urges Procurement Professionals to Think Strategically
Rev. Kennedy Okosun, Executive Chairman of KRIF Ghana Limited, challenged procurement professionals to continuously upgrade their knowledge and move beyond viewing procurement as an administrative function.
He said effective procurement professionals needed a broader understanding of finance, operations, technology, strategy and leadership to contribute meaningfully to organisational decision-making.
Okosun also urged participants to consider quality, risk, efficiency and total value when evaluating purchasing decisions.
According to him, KRIF Ghana’s four decades of experience working with institutions had reinforced the importance of effective procurement leadership in improving organisational performance.
Emotional Intelligence Identified as Key Leadership Skill
Maggie Lada, an international development consultant and former USAID Chief of Party in Zambia, highlighted emotional intelligence, curiosity and sound judgement as essential qualities for procurement professionals aspiring to leadership positions.
She said professionals needed to build relationships across departments, manage disagreements constructively and remain collaborative while upholding procurement standards.
Lada noted that although technical expertise and attention to detail remained important, emotional intelligence became increasingly valuable as professionals progressed into middle and senior management.
She encouraged procurement managers to approach their superiors with possible solutions alongside identified problems and urged them to think creatively about how procurement regulations could support wider organisational objectives.
Procurement Challenge Lab Brings Training to Life
The KRIF Ghana Procurement Masterclass distinguished itself through practical learning activities, including a Procurement Challenge Lab in which participants worked in teams to solve a realistic procurement scenario 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 supplier evaluation techniques.
Participants took part in action-planning and networking sessions designed to help them translate the lessons into practical improvements within their respective organisations. Certificates of participation were presented at the end of the programme.
The organisers said the Masterclass was designed to strengthen professional competence, broaden strategic thinking and equip procurement practitioners with practical approaches to delivering greater value.
With participants drawn from financial services, government, security, media and healthcare, the programme also created opportunities for cross-sector knowledge-sharing and professional collaboration.
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