The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has pushed back against claims that the government’s flagship “Big Push” infrastructure programme relies heavily on sole sourcing, stating that less than half of the contracts were awarded through that method.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, March 24, Mr. Agbodza explained that only 44 percent of the major contracts under the initiative were sole-sourced, contrary to reports by an online portal suggesting widespread use of the procurement method.
“Let me be very clear: only 44 percent of all major contracts under the Big Push initiative were awarded through sole sourcing. This is far from the claim that the Ministry relies heavily on this method.”
He stressed that the ministry adopted a mix of procurement approaches, all in line with the law, to respond to the urgency and national importance of critical road projects.
According to the Minister, some ongoing works were extensions of previously competitively procured contracts, a move intended to accelerate project completion and avoid delays associated with restarting procurement processes.
Mr. Agbodza also revealed that 23 road projects were undertaken through sole-sourced contracts at a total cost of GH¢14.8 billion, noting that such decisions were justified by the need for timely delivery.
However, he maintained that competitive procurement remains a key pillar of the ministry’s operations, disclosing that “over 400 contracts have been awarded through open competitive bidding”—a figure he described as unprecedented.
He argued that it would be misleading for anyone to conclude that the Ministry of Roads and Highways predominantly uses sole sourcing, especially when the data shows significant reliance on competitive processes.
The clarification comes amid growing public scrutiny over procurement practices, with the minority in Parliament criticising the government for what it describes as a lack of transparency in the Big Push project. Lawmakers have urged the full disclosure of details surrounding contracts awarded under the initiative.
This call follows allegations raised by The Fourth Estate, which questioned procurement practices under the programme, including concerns about possible cost inflation and irregularities in contract awards.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com