In a decisive move toward accountable governance, the Government has released the findings of a 72-page investigation into allegations of procurement irregularities within the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
At a press conference, Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, outlined the conclusions of the inquiry commissioned by President John Mahama following reports by the Fourth Estate and the Media Foundation for West Africa. The investigation, led by Senior Presidential Advisor Dr. Valerie Sawyerr, found that the Ministry acted within legal boundaries and did not abuse the single-sourcing process.
Debunking the “Sole-Source Factory” Narrative
The report revealed that competitive tendering remains the overwhelming norm. Out of 1,441 road project contracts awarded under the current administration, 90.28% (1,301 projects) were awarded through open or competitive tendering. Single sourcing accounted for only 4.58% of contracts in 2025 and 2026.
“The data refutes any claim that the Ministry acted in disregard of the President’s directive on fiscal prudence,” Kwakye Ofosu stated. “Competitive bidding is, and remains, the baseline norm.”
The ‘Big Push’ Initiative
The report addressed the Big Push program, designed to rapidly fix critical road corridors. While 47.14% of the 140 projects under this initiative used single sourcing, the Minister explained these decisions were guided by:
- Accelerated delivery of urgent road works.
- National security concerns over degraded corridors.
- Fiscal risk mitigation against inflation and cost escalation.
All single-source contracts under the Big Push were legally approved by the Public Procurement Authority.
Clarifying Allegations
- Dodo Pepesu – Nkwanta Road: A typographical error in published figures was clarified; the actual contract sum of GHC 683.9 million was within authorized limits. The contractor was confirmed as a qualified A1B1 firm.
- Winneba – Cape Coast Dualisation: Higher costs per kilometer were attributed to complex works, including a 1,200-meter viaduct and four long-span bridges.
- Administrative errors: Misspelled company names were deemed clerical mistakes, not attempts to evade scrutiny.
Future Oversight Reforms
While clearing the Ministry of wrongdoing, the report acknowledged public aversion to single sourcing. President Mahama announced reforms to tighten oversight:
- Value for Money Office: All high-value single-source contracts must obtain VfM certification.
- Mandatory Cabinet approval for high-value contracts.
- Legislative reform to restrict single sourcing to exceptional cases.
- Open data disclosure of beneficial owners and valuations via a centralized e-procurement portal.
The Minister praised the role of the media in fostering accountability, noting that transparency efforts by MFWA and the Fourth Estate are vital for democracy.
“The President is committed to ensuring that every cedi of public funds delivers maximum benefit,” Kwakye Ofosu concluded. “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.”
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