THE ROLE OF PERSONNEL INTEGRITY IN MEDIATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN E-PROCUREMENT ADOPTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY AMONG PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATIONS

Authors: Zubairu Kassim, Bernard Tutu Boahene & Samuel Oduro Owusu

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the mediating role of personnel integrity in the relationship between e-procurement adoption and accountability in Ghana’s public sector organizations, utilizing the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework. E-procurement systems, such as the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS), aim to enhance transparency and reduce corruption in public procurement. However, their effectiveness is often influenced by human factors, particularly the integrity of personnel managing these systems. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 172 procurement officers, managers, and staff across 20 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) through the use of structured questionnaires. The analysis, conducted via Smart PLS, confirmed that e-procurement adoption significantly enhances accountability (β = 0.163, p = 0.014) and personnel integrity (β = 0.412, p < 0.001). Personnel integrity has a strong influence on accountability (β = 0.716, p < 0.001) and significantly mediates the relationship between e-procurement and accountability (β = 0.295, p < 0.001), explaining 63.5% of the variance in accountability outcomes. These findings suggest that while e-procurement fosters transparency, its impact on accountability is amplified by the presence of ethical behavior among personnel. The study highlights the importance of integrity-focused training and robust anti-corruption policies in complementing technological reforms. Despite limitations, such as its cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data, the results contribute to the literature on digital governance and offer policymakers.

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