The first question we must ask is, did the Road Ministry award all the road contracts to just one company or individual through sole-sourcing (single-source procurement) or the Road Ministry awarded different Road contracts to different companies through sole-sourcing (single-source procurement)?
If it is true that only 44% of the Big Push road projects were awarded under sole-sourcing to local contractors as a means of empowering indigenous entrepreneurs, then what is scandalous about that?
Must all contracts undergo competitive tendering before you can assume or expect value for money, transparency, and accountability?
If Single-source procurement amounts to corruption, then let us further amend the Procurement Act 2003(Act 663) & Act 914(2016) to completely remove Single-source procurement(Sole-sourcing), and Restricted Tendering and also make it a highly criminal offence for any Ministry, Agency & Departments of government, State Institutions, MMDAs etc. to award contracts under sole-sourcing(Single-source procurement) or restricted tendering.
Single-source procurement(sole-sourcing) and Restricted Tendering are globally accepted procurement methods/procedures but an African politician due to mischief and propaganda while in opposition and sometimes in collaboration with some CSOs/Think Tanks will be demonising Sole-sourcing (single-source procurement) and Restricted Tendering by tagging it a scandal under the ruling government of the day.
Meanwhile, it is worth noting that some NDC people who were vehemently against sole-sourcing while in opposition are now defending same in government, and the NPP people who were aggressively defending sole-sourcing under Akufo-Addo’s government are now attacking sole-sourcing under Mahama’s government.
It seems there is no proper principles and ethics in our body politics, with many politicians crying foul in opposition as if we dearly care about the Country.
Some of the CSOs and Think Tanks have seen this gap and brilliantly hide behind the so called “Value for money, Accountability and Transparency” anthem sponsored by some foreign donor partners to frustrate the initiatives and programmes of African governments aimed at empowering local entrepreneurs through Sole-source and Restricted tendering contracts.
There would NOT have been a single sound from Fourth Estate if the 44% of the Big Push Projects were given to Foreign Companies or individuals.
For Fourth Estate, no Ghanaian company deserves any good thing from government.
Ghanaian politicians through bi-partisan approach must know what to criticise and what not to criticise politically or else some CSOs/Think Tanks will thrive on the ignorance and political vulnerability of politicians to indirectly control the state of affairs in this Country while hiding behind the strategy of “Value for Money, Accountability, and Transparency”.
But leaders of some CSOs/Think Tanks are more corrupt than most of the politicians in this Country.
From America to Europe, all governments award some of the country’s contracts to local entrepreneurs through Sole-sourcing, Restricted Tendering, and Exclusivity License.
Even IMF and World Bank engage the services of some companies through Sole-sourcing and Restricted Tendering. So what’s with the unnecessary debate and discussions about sole-sourcing and restricted tendering of road contracts?
As citizens, what we must concern ourselves with when it comes to Sole-sourcing or Restricted tendering or Exclusivity License are:
- The merit regarding the cost of the project.
- Value for Money Audit regarding the project.
- Competence, Capacity, and the ability to deliver quality project.
- Durability, and sustainability of the project.
- Completion and delivery timeliness for the project.
- Fair pricing, and emergency demands (urgent needs).
- Unique expertise required for the project especially the Technology driving the business or the project.
- Growth of the local economy.
- Jobs for the youth.
- Indigenous wealth creation in the country.
Sole-source procurement, restricted tendering and exclusivity license are essential to accelerate national development especially in the areas of:
Roads and Infrastructure
Technology-based business (including digitalisation)
Military and National Security.
In USA, China, Russia, and other advanced Countries, about a certain percentage of government contracts are awarded through Sole-sourcing or Restricted Tendering or Exclusive Licence especially for Military/National Security, Technology-based businesses, and urgent national infrastructure projects.
The Ministry of Roads has done nothing wrong if indeed 44% of the Big Push projects were awarded under Sole-source aimed at empowering indigenous road contractors.
We just have to make sure that the roads are properly done and are worthy of evaluation and payments.
If the answer to the following questions are NO then there is no justifiable basis to attack the Road Ministry for awarding 44% of the Big Push road projects under sole-sourcing unless of course we want to do the usual politics with Sole-sourcing by dancing to the tune of CSOs, and Think Tanks:
- Was there an issue of OVERPRICING of the road contracts?
- Were the sole-sourced contracts all given to one company or individual leading to gross abuse of the procurement method?
- Were the sole-sourced contracts awarded to companies or individuals because they are related to the Minister and his deputies i.e. family, friends, affiliation or association?
- Were the sole-sourced contracts given to inexperienced individuals or companies or foot soldiers of the NDC?
- Were the sole-sourced contracts awarded in breach of the Public Procurement Act 663 and Act 914?
- Were the sole-sourced contracts awarded without proper approval?
- Were the sole-sourced contracts awarded to foreigners or foreign-owned companies?
- Under the future government of NPP, are we going to witness ZERO TOLERANCE for Sole-source contracts (Single-source procurement), Restricted Tendering, and Exclusivity License?
- Is there any evidence of misapplication of road funds under the sole-source contracts?
- Is there any evidence of misappropriation of road funds under the sole-source contracts?
- Is there any evidence of the Road Minister taking 1-10% kick-back from the awarded sole-source contracts?
One thing I have learnt in life and politics is that, if people want to believe something about you, it doesn’t matter what facts you present to debunk the allegations or the lack of fact your opposition or accuser presents.
We have allowed truth and lies to blend in our body politics thereby affecting growth of the economy and overall national development.
Any individual, CSO or Think Tank can come out with unmerited allegations, and suddenly politicians either in government or in opposition will be wasting precious time and energy discussing or debating those umerited allegations, creating scandals out of thin air.
Using 44% of Big Push Projects to empower local contractors is a very laudable initiative provided it is done well.
Source: Dr. Razak Kojo Opoku
