Kwame Governs Agbodza and Kennedy Nyarko Osei
The award of road contracts through sole sourcing has sparked intense debate in Parliament, with the government defending its procurement decisions under the flagship ‘Big Push’ infrastructure programme amid opposition concerns over transparency and value for money.
Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, yesterday told Parliament that all contracts awarded under the programme complied strictly with the Public Procurement Act, insisting there had been no abuse of the sole sourcing method.
He disclosed that only 44 percent of major contracts under the initiative were awarded through sole sourcing, contrary to claims circulating in the public domain, while over 400 contracts had been executed through competitive bidding.
According to the minister, the use of sole sourcing in some instances was justified by urgency and the need to fast-track critical infrastructure works.
He explained that several projects inherited from the previous administration, which valued at GH¢14.8 billion, were already structured under similar procurement arrangements and were absorbed into the ‘Big Push’ programme to ensure continuity and avoid delays.
Mr. Agbodza further argued that the deteriorating state of roads across the country required swift intervention, noting that lengthy procurement processes could have stalled critical projects.
“Most of the projects would not have started by now if we had not adopted a faster route,” he stated, adding that dedicated funding under the programme made it prudent to proceed quickly to prevent cost overruns.
He also sought to assure Parliament that safeguards had been put in place to guarantee value for money, including independent assessments of contractor proposals and stricter monitoring systems to ensure payments are made strictly for work done.
The ministry, he added, has also collaborated with professional bodies to strengthen cost validation and oversight mechanisms.
Minority
However, the Ranking Member on the Roads and Transport Committee, Kennedy Nyarko Osei, cautioned against the potential abuse of sole sourcing, stressing that while the law permits it under specific conditions, it must not be overused for large-scale contracts funded by taxpayers.
He warned that awarding high-value contracts through sole sourcing could create public suspicion, even in the absence of wrongdoing.
Contributing to the debate, Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, noted that the minister’s own admission that nearly half of the contracts were sole sourced validates concerns raised by civil society groups.
He observed that globally, sole sourcing is often associated with reduced transparency and a higher risk of opaque transactions, urging greater scrutiny of procurement practices.
Despite the disagreements, the minister maintained that the ‘Big Push’ programme remains on track, with projects ongoing across the country and expected to deliver significant improvements in road infrastructure by 2027.
He called for bipartisan support to ensure the successful implementation of the initiative, describing it as critical to economic growth and national development.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House