The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has dismissed claims that the government’s flagship Big Push infrastructure programme relies heavily on sole sourcing, describing the allegations as misleading and not supported by facts presented to Parliament.

Updating the House on Tuesday, the minister stated that all contracts under the programme have been awarded in accordance with the Public Procurement Act and its regulations. He emphasised that procurement processes remain transparent, with full contract details available on the Ministry’s website.

According to him, only 44 percent of major contracts — including those under the Big Push — were awarded through sole sourcing, while more than 400 contracts have been procured through open competitive tendering. He argued that it is inaccurate to suggest that the Ministry depends primarily on sole sourcing.

The minister explained that the scale and urgency of fixing Ghana’s deteriorating road network required a balanced use of procurement methods within the law. He noted that relying solely on lengthy processes could delay critical projects and increase costs, worsening economic challenges.

He further disclosed that 23 major road projects valued at GHS 14.88 billion, inherited from the previous administration but left unfunded, have been integrated into the Big Push programme with new financing. These include projects such as the Suame Interchange, Ofankor–Nsawam Road, and Adenta–Dodowa Road, which he said might have remained stalled without the current approach.

The programme, he added, focuses on 12 key economic corridors divided into 54 lots to boost competition and speed up execution. Currently, more than 2,000 kilometres of roads across all 16 regions are being reconstructed or upgraded.

Addressing concerns about value for money, the Minister highlighted several safeguards, including in-house survey, design, and costing by state agencies, as well as independent value-for-money assessments of contractor proposals. He stressed that payments are strictly tied to verified work completed.

“We have established a system where no contractor is paid without measurable progress,” he said, noting ongoing collaboration with the Ghana Institution of Surveyors to strengthen independent cost verification.

He also rejected criticisms based on cost-per-kilometre comparisons, explaining that such assessments often overlook differences in project scope, engineering complexity, and additional infrastructure like interchanges and bridges.

The minister emphasised that the programme remains under continuous parliamentary oversight, including regular questioning, committee reviews, and independent validation by professional bodies.

Contrasting the current administration’s approach with the previous one, he said many inherited projects lacked proper authorisation and competitive procurement, contributing to arrears exceeding GHS40 billion. He added that over GHS 11 billion has since been paid to reduce the debt.

Reaffirming the government’s stance, Hon. Agbodza stated that sole sourcing remains the exception rather than the rule and insisted that no procurement laws have been breached.

He urged Parliament and the public to support the initiative, cautioning against misinformation that could undermine what he described as a transformative effort to improve road infrastructure, reduce transport costs, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth nationwide.