Kwame Governs Agbodza
The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has refuted claims of abuse of the single-sourcing procurement process in the award of road contracts under the ‘Big Push’ initiative, stating that over 90 percent of the projects were awarded through competitive tendering.
Addressing journalists as part of Government Accountability series in Accra yesterday, Kwakye Ofosu revealed that the Presidency has released findings of a 72-page report which will be published today.
A summary issued on Monday outlines the government’s response to claims made by the Fourth Estate and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in an April 1, 2026 publication, which indicated that government did not breach procurement laws.
President John Mahama referred the matter to the Senior Presidential Advisor on Governmental Affairs on April 2, 2026, to investigate the allegations. The Ministry of Roads and Highways submitted its response on April 21, and the final report was delivered to the President on May 22.
On the contract breakdown, the report established that 1,441 road contracts have been awarded by the Ministry of Roads and Highways under the current administration. Of that total, 1,301 contracts, or 90.28%, were awarded through open or competitive tendering.
The remaining 140 were awarded under the ‘Big Push’ initiative. Of those, 66 were single-sourced, 51 were through restrictive tendering, and 23 were ongoing single-source projects inherited from the previous government and absorbed into ‘Big Push’.
Under ‘Big Push’ alone, 47.14% of the 140 contracts were single-sourced. All implementing agencies including Ghana Highway Authority, Department of Urban Roads, and Department of Feeder Roads obtained Public Procurement Authority Board approval for single-source and restricted tender awards, part of the report stated.
Justification for Single Sourcing
The report found that single sourcing 47.14% of ‘Big Push’ contracts was “informed by urgent and compelling national considerations.” It cited accelerated infrastructure delivery, procurement efficiency, public and national security urgency due to road degradation, and fiscal risk mitigation against inflation.
The ministry followed procedures required by law and did not breach procurement rules under the Public Procurement Act, 2003, the report concluded.
On claims about the Dodo-Pepesu-Nkwanta Road, the report said the Ministry of Finance’s July 11, 2025, Commitment Authorisation listed the estimated cost at GH¢684,001,621.50.
A Ghana Highway Authority letter dated December 31, 2025, stated that the contract sum awarded was GH¢683,902,957.69. A higher figure of GH¢804,828,456.81 published elsewhere “would appear to have been a genuine typographical error,” the report said, as the Commitment Authorisation does not allow payment above GH¢684,001,621.50.
Value for Money Claims
The report rejected claims that awarding multiple lots to one contractor inflates costs. “This logic implies that diversifying contractors across lots would reduce expenditures,” it said, noting independent contractors would not share preliminaries and general costs.
On the 25km Winneba–Cape Coast Road Lot 2 costing GH¢3.859 billion versus Lot 1 at GH¢1.878 billion for 24km, the report said the higher cost per kilometre was due to a different scope, including three grade-separated systems, a 1,200-metre viaduct, and four long-span bridges.
Regarding the Dodo-Pepesu Nkwanta Road, the report clarified that work inaugurated in 2016 was double bituminous sealing, not asphalting. The current scope includes scarification, new drains, subbase, crushed rock base, asphalt binder, and asphalt wearing surface, accounting for higher costs.
Recommendations
The report made four recommendations: All public sector single-source contracts above a set threshold must get a Value for Money Certificate before award.
Such contracts must also receive Cabinet approval; legislation to tighten discretion on single sourcing should be accelerated; and procurement entities must publish approved single-source contracts, valuations, and beneficial owners on an open e-procurement portal.
Conclusion
The report concluded that the Ministry of Roads and Highways “did not abuse the single source procurement process” and “acted within legal provisions.”
It recognised the transparency efforts of the Fourth Estate and MFWA as “serving an essential role in fostering public accountability” while also recognising the ministry’s commitment to the ‘Big Push’ agenda to accelerate infrastructure development.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah