Appraising the interactions between public-sector procurement policy and disaster preparedness

Disasters can be disruptive to the smooth flow of resources even in the most robust supply chains. Unfortunately while disaster caused disruptions and casualty numbers continue to increase, the capacity to judiciously procure and deploy relief/emergency resources in real time dwindles. This paper explores how the over exploitation of public-sector procurement policy can influence strategic national disaster preparedness and response. Specifically, we highlight the interdependent relationships between procurement policy induced behaviours and the capacity to prepare and respond to disasters. Results from interviews with individual senior managers of a disaster management organisation, and the derived cognitive maps suggest that: inapposite procurement practices, excessive political intrusion, resource mismanagement, and unclear national disaster management policy (plan), are some of the causes underpinning poor disaster preparedness and response in Ghana. Our research therefore attempts to explain the apparent inverse relationship between the rise in disaster incidents and the decline in capacity to manage disasters. This article could serve as one of the empirical basis that would prompt policy-makers to review Ghana's policy on emergency procurement. The models in this research could provide the needed insight into the underlying structures as well as alert managers that their procurement decisions or behaviours can potentially produce unintended consequences that may affect future operations.