Corruption in Public Procurement: Can E-Procurement and Artificial Intelligence Make a Difference in Africa ?
Corruption in Public Procurement – Can E-Procurement and Artificial Intelligence Make a Difference in Africa
By: Mutasim Gadour
Public procurement is one of the most corruption-prone government functions, especially in Africa. In a compelling dissertation, Mutasim Gadour explores whether digital tools like e-procurement and artificial intelligence (AI) can reduce corruption in African public procurement, focusing on Ghana and South Africa.
The study reveals that while both countries face corruption challenges, their barriers differ. Ghana struggles with technology infrastructure, while South Africa’s challenges lie in process and people—like low system utilization and weak political will. Using the People-Process-Technology (PPT) framework, the research analyzes key success factors and proposes targeted solutions for each.
E-procurement platforms increase transparency, reduce human interference, and make procurement data more accessible. AI tools like Ukraine’s Dozorro demonstrate how algorithms can flag suspicious tenders, offering promising models for Africa. However, the study cautions that technology alone isn’t a silver bullet. It must be paired with political support, legal reforms, staff training, and cultural shifts to be effective.
Ultimately, the research makes a clear case: Technology offers Africa a powerful opportunity to clean up public procurement—but only if implemented with local context and real commitment to reform. As Gadour notes, the journey starts with political will. Without it, even the best digital tools will fail to deliver change.
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