The government has published the results of a thorough 72-page investigation into claims of procurement irregularities inside the Ministry of Roads and Highways, marking a significant step toward accountable administration.
The conclusions of the report, which was commissioned by H.E. President John Mahama after publications by the Fourth Estate and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), were presented in a press conference by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of State for Government Communications.
Dr. Valerie Sawyerr, Senior Presidential Advisor on Governmental Affairs, undertook the review and came to the conclusion that the Ministry of Roads and Highways did not abuse the single-sourcing process and operated within the law.
Most importantly, the research shows that competitive tendering is still the predominant practice for government road construction.
The “Sole-Source Factory” myth is refuted.The main allegation that the Ministry of Roads and Highways had turned into a “sole-source factory” was addressed by the Minister. The report’s documentary material presents an alternative narrative.
A startling 90.28% (1,301 projects) of the 1,441 road project contracts issued under the present government came from open or competitive procurement. In 2025 and 2026, just 4.58% of all contracts were awarded using single sourcing.
Minister Kwakye Ofosu said, “The data refutes any claim that the Ministry acted in disregard of the President’s directive on fiscal prudence. Competitive bidding is, and remains, the baseline norm.”
The “Big Push”: Procedure vs Speed.
The “Big Push” effort, a specialised, quick-response program intended to repair vital road corridors and promote economic growth, was the focus of the report.
The Minister clarified that these choices were influenced by key national interests, such as the following, even though 47.14% of the 140 projects under this particular initiative used single sourcing:
- Accelerated Delivery: Meeting urgent infrastructure needs at an expedited pace.
- National Security: Addressing severe road degradation that posed risks to critical corridors.
- Fiscal Risk Mitigation: Hedging against market inflation and preventing cost escalations.
The Public Procurement Authority (PPA) Board lawfully processed and approved all single-source applications under the Big Push.
outlining certain accusations.The Minister used the occasion to clarify a number of prominent allegations made by the Fourth Estate:
Dodo Pepesu – Nkwanta Road: The Minister explained that an apparent disparity in contract figures was actually a typo in a published list.
The government’s approved limit was exceeded by the actual contract amount of GHC 683.9 million.
Additionally, it was verified that Messrs. Growth 82 Global Limited, the contractor, is a fully certified A1B1 contractor who has been registered since 2020.
The Winneba-Cape Coast Dualisation: In response to allegations of inflated costs, the report clarified that intricacy, not length, is the reason for some lots’ greater cost per kilometre.
Four long-span river bridges and a 1,200-meter viaduct are among the specialised projects included in the project.
Administrative Errors: It was determined that claims of misspelt firm names (such as “Groth” instead of “Growth”) were merely clerical mistakes with no indication of a desire to avoid public scrutiny.
A Stricter Oversight Future.
The review recognised a “strong public aversion” to single sourcing while absolving the Ministry of any legal misconduct. President Mahama has responded by pledging to implement a number of historic changes that will further restrict procurement discretion:
1. Value for Money (VfM) Office: Under the newly enacted VfM Office Act (2026), all high-value single-source contracts must now obtain a Value for Money Certificate before being awarded.
2. Mandatory Cabinet Approval: Moving forward, high-value single-source contracts will require Cabinet-level oversight to ensure maximum fiscal discipline.
3. Legislative Reform: The Ministry of Finance and the Attorney-General are finalizing legislation to ensure single sourcing is used only in truly exceptional circumstances.
4. Open Data Disclosure: Government agencies will be required to publish ultimate beneficial owners and financial valuations of single-source contracts on a centralized e-procurement portal.
A Stricter Oversight Future.
The review recognised a “strong public aversion” to single sourcing while absolving the Ministry of any legal misconduct. President Mahama has responded by pledging to implement a number of historic changes that will further restrict procurement discretion:
A vibrant democracy depends on the transparency efforts of the MFWA and the Fourth Estate, the minister said, praising the media’s role in promoting public accountability.
The Minister stated, “The President is committed to ensuring that every cedi of public funds delivers maximum benefit. By integrating the Value for Money Office and tightening legislative controls, we are ensuring that our infrastructure drive, the Big Push, is executed with both speed and absolute integrity.”
The full 72-page report below:
Source: newsthemegh.com