Government defends ‘Big Push’ road contracts, stating all procurement strictly follows the law.

ACCRA, GHANA — The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Roads and Highways, has issued a comprehensive statement addressing recent allegations regarding the use of single-sourcing procurement methods in the award of major road contracts under the “Big Push” infrastructure initiative.

Below is the complete, unedited text of the official government response:

MINISTRY OF ROADS AND HIGHWAYS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STATEMENT ON ALLEGATIONS OF SINGLE-SOURCING IN THE AWARD OF ROAD CONTRACTS UNDER THE ‘BIG PUSH’ INITIATIVE

The attention of the Ministry of Roads and Highways has been drawn to various media publications and statements by certain public commentators alleging irregularities, lack of transparency, and the widespread use of restrictive single-sourcing in the procurement and award of road contracts under the Government’s flagship infrastructure development agenda, popularly known as the “Big Push” Initiative.

The Ministry wishes to state unequivocally that these allegations are unfounded, misleading, and do not reflect the facts regarding the procurement processes managed by this Ministry and its implementing agencies.

For the avoidance of doubt, and to ensure the public is accurately informed, the Ministry provides the following clarifications:

1. Adherence to the Public Procurement Act (Act 663)

All road contracts awarded under the Big Push Initiative have strictly complied with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), as amended by the Public Procurement (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 914). The Government of Ghana remains deeply committed to the principles of value for money, transparency, and accountability in the utilization of public funds.

2. The Use of Restrictive Tendering and Single-Sourcing

Sections 38 and 40 of Act 663 explicitly outline the lawful conditions under which a procurement entity may utilize restrictive tendering or single-source procurement. These methods are legally recognized procurement pathways designed for specific circumstances, including:

 Projects of extreme urgency, such as critical economic corridors or safety hazards.

 Highly specialized engineering requirements where only specific contractors possess the technical competence and equipment to deliver within required timelines.

 National security and strategic economic interests.

Where single-sourcing or restrictive tendering has been utilized under the Big Push, the Ministry has consistently sought and secured the mandatory, prior written approval of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA). No contract has been awarded outside this legal framework.

3. Scope and Impact of the ‘Big Push’

The Big Push Initiative is an aggressive, time-bound infrastructural drive aimed at bridging Ghana’s critical road deficit, expanding economic corridors, reducing travel times, and boosting regional trade. Given the macroeconomic importance of these projects, delayed execution would result in immense financial loss to the state and prolonged hardship for commuters. The choice of procurement method in all instances was dictated by the need to guarantee technical competence, financial capability, and rapid mobilization.

4. Competitive Tendering Remains the Standard

While critics have focused on a select few specialized projects, competitive tendering remains the primary method for awarding the vast majority of road construction projects across the country. Local contractors continue to be prioritized under standard competitive bidding processes to foster domestic capacity in the construction sub-sector.

5. Quality Assurance and Value for Money

Every contract approved under this initiative undergoes rigorous engineering audit, cost-benefit analysis, and value-for-money evaluation by the Ministry’s technical teams in collaboration with independent state oversight bodies. The final costs of these projects are heavily negotiated to ensure that the Ghanaian taxpayer receives optimum value.

Conclusion

The Ministry of Roads and Highways urges the general public, the media, and all civil society stakeholders to verify information from official sources before publication. The Ministry welcomes constructive oversight and remains fully open to providing information through the appropriate legal channels, including the Right to Information (RTI) framework.

The Government will not be deterred in its mission to transform Ghana’s road network and drive sustainable socio-economic development through the Big Push Initiative.