The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza has defended its procurement processes under the government’s flagship “Big Push” road programme, insisting that all contracts were awarded in strict compliance with the law.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, March 24, the sector Minister stated that every contract executed under the initiative adhered to the provisions of the Public Procurement Act and its accompanying regulations, stressing that due process was followed at all stages.
He further disclosed that details of all awarded contracts have been made publicly available on the Ministry’s website to ensure transparency and accountability.
“Mr. Speaker, let me state emphatically that when it comes to the Big Push Programme; Procurement processes comply with established legal
frameworks. There is no abuse of sole sourcing,” he stated.
According to the Minister, the Big Push initiative comprises 12 key economic corridors referred to as the “12 disciples” which have been divided into 54 separate project lots to promote competition and accelerate execution.
He explained that a mix of procurement methods was employed due to the scale and urgency of the projects, noting that sole sourcing remains an internationally accepted approach, particularly where there is a need to fast-track ongoing works.
The Minister revealed that only 44 percent of major contracts awarded under the Big Push Programme have been executed through sole sourcing, while more than 400 contracts have been awarded through open competitive tendering.
He rejected claims that the Ministry relies solely on sole sourcing, describing such assertions as misleading and unfounded.
“It will therefore be mischievous for any right-thinking member of society to conclude that the Ministry of Roads and Highways only procure works through sole sourcing,” he noted.
The Minister’s statement follows a publication by The Fourth Estate, which questioned procurement procedures under the Big Push agenda, especially the use of sole-sourcing and possible cost inflation.
The publication also accused Kwame Governs Agbodza, the Minister for Roads and Highways, of supervising the awarding of 81 sole-sourced contracts totalling more than GHS73 billion in just seven months.
