THE Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has dismissed claims that the government’s Big Push Infrastructure Programme is driven by sole sourcing, describing the allegations as misleading and inconsistent with facts presented to Parliament.
Updating the House in Accra, he stated that all contracts under the programme were awarded in strict compliance with the Public Procurement Act and its regulations, stressing that procurement processes remained transparent, with details publicly accessible on the Ministry’s website.
Mr Agbodza explained that contrary to claims of widespread sole sourcing, only 44 per cent of major contracts, including those under the Big Push programme, were awarded through sole sourcing, while more than 400 contracts had been procured through open competitive tendering.
He said a mix of procurement methods was deliberately adopted value-for-money assessments of contractor proposals.
within the law to fast-track road projects and address Ghana’s deteriorating road network, noting that strict adherence to lengthy procurement processes could delay critical infrastructure delivery and worsen economic hardship.
The Minister disclosed that 23 major road projects valued at GH¢14.88 billion, inherited from the previous administration but stalled due to lack of funding, had been incorporated into the Big Push programme and provided with new financing.
He named key projects under the programme as the Suame Interchange, Ofankor-Nsawam Road and Adenta-Dodowa Road, noting that many would have remained abandoned without the intervention.
Mr Agbodza said the Big Push programme focuses on 12 major economic corridors, divided into 54 lots to enhance competition and accelerate execution, with over 2,000 kilometres of roads currently under reconstruction or upgrading across the country.
On value for money, he outlined measures including in-house survey, design and costing by state agencies, as well as independent
He added that stricter monitoring systems had been introduced to ensure that payments were tied strictly to work completed.
The Minister also stressed that the programme operates under continuous parliamentary oversight, with regular engagements and independent validation of costs.
He urged the public to support the initiative, describing it as a transformative intervention aimed at improving roads, creating jobs and boosting economic activity nationwide.
Meanwhile, the Minority Caucus on the Committee on Roads and Transport has called for a detailed publication of awarded projects under the ‘Big Push’ road project, including the identities of contractors, specific scope of work assigned to contractors, and the unit cost per kilometer of roads under construction.
Their call followed report by the Fourth Estate raising concerns over procurement processes, highlighting the extensive use of sole sourcing and potential cost inflation in the awarding of contracts.
According to the caucus, it was ernment in the roads and transport sector.
He also urged the government to explore innovative financial solution and mechanisms, including road infrastructure bonds to finance road projects and expedite
surprised by the decision of the government to award road projects under the contract agreement that amounted to GH¢ 73 billion within seven months, as the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) strongly opposed when it was in opposition.
The Ranking Member on the committee and New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Akim Swedru, Mr Kennedy Nyarko Osei, made the call at a press conference held in Parliament yesterday, where he touched on a plethora of issues in the road and transport sector.
He explained that providing a detailed publication of awarded contracts would ensure transparency and boost public confidence in the government.
“Once the cost details of the ‘Big Push’ project are made available, we can juxtapose these projects with established benchmarks to ensure that they do not overrun the expected cost ranges,” Mr Osei said.
Moreover, the Ranking Member criticised the government for allegedly abandoning projects that were started by the previous NPP government in the roads and transport sector.
the implementation of the National Road Authority Act to ensure a well-planned, well-maintained, and efficient road network capable of supporting the country’s long-term economic development.
Mr Osei noted the delay in the reintroduction and the competition of the modernisation of the road tolls by the government did raised questions about the policy consistency and revenue mobilisation strategy for road maintenance by the government.
BY BENJAMIN ACTON TETTEY
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