Agbodza: Roads Minister rebuts sole sourcing claims; Says 400 contracts awarded competitively
The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has rejected claims that the government’s flagship Big Push Infrastructure Programme is dominated by sole sourcing, insisting that the initiative is being implemented in full compliance with procurement laws.
Delivering a statement to Parliament on Tuesday, the Minister described allegations of widespread sole sourcing as “mischievous” and inconsistent with facts presented to the House, stressing that all contracts under the programme adhere strictly to the Public Procurement Act and its accompanying regulations.
He maintained that the procurement processes are transparent, with full details of awarded contracts made publicly available on the Ministry’s website, allowing for scrutiny and accountability.
Addressing concerns directly, Mr Agbodza revealed that only 44 per cent of major contracts, including those under the Big Push programme, were awarded through sole sourcing, while more than 400 contracts have been secured through open competitive tendering. “It is therefore misleading for any right thinking person to conclude that the Ministry only relies on sole sourcing,” he told Parliament.
The Minister explained that the scale and urgency of Ghana’s deteriorating road network necessitated a flexible but lawful procurement approach, combining different methods to accelerate delivery and prevent further cost escalation. He argued that relying solely on lengthy procurement procedures would have delayed critical projects and deepened economic challenges.
He disclosed that 23 major road projects valued at GH¢14.88 billion, originally awarded under the previous administration but left uncompleted due to funding constraints, had been absorbed into the Big Push programme and given fresh financing. These include strategic projects such as the Suame Interchange, the Ofankor–Nsawam Road and the Adenta–Dodowa Road, which he said might have remained stalled without the expedited intervention.
Mr Agbodza further outlined that the programme is structured around 12 key economic corridors, divided into 54 lots to enhance competition and speed up execution. He noted that more than 2,000 kilometres of roads across all 16 regions are currently undergoing reconstruction or upgrading.
On value for money, the Minister highlighted a series of safeguards, including in-house surveying, design and costing by state agencies to reduce costs, alongside independent assessments of contractor proposals. He added that stricter monitoring systems had been introduced to ensure payments are tied directly to verified work done.
“We have established a system where no contractor will be paid without delivering measurable work,” he stated, adding that collaboration with the Ghana Institution of Surveyors is ongoing to strengthen independent cost verification.
He also dismissed criticisms based on cost-per-kilometre comparisons, arguing that such assessments fail to account for differences in engineering complexity and associated infrastructure such as interchanges and bridges.
The Minister emphasised that the Big Push programme remains under continuous parliamentary oversight, with regular engagements and independent validation of project costs by professional bodies.
Contrasting the current approach with that of the previous administration, he said several inherited projects in 2024 lacked commitment authorisation and were not subjected to competitive procurement processes, contributing to arrears exceeding GH¢40 billion. He disclosed that the government has since paid more than GH¢11 billion to reduce the debt, describing it as the largest arrears settlement in recent history.
Reaffirming the government’s position, Mr Agbodza declared: “There is no abuse of sole sourcing. It is the exception, not the norm. No procurement law has been breached, and there is no scandal.”
He urged Parliament and the public to support the programme, cautioning against misinformation that could undermine what he described as a transformative effort to improve road infrastructure, reduce transport costs and stimulate economic growth nationwide.
“The Big Push is delivering the infrastructure Ghanaians demanded,” he said. “We must not allow misinformation to derail it.”
