The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has defended the government’s Big Push infrastructure programme, dismissing allegations that it relies excessively on sole sourcing as “misleading” and unsupported by parliamentary records.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Minister Agbodza explained that only 44 percent of major contracts under the programme have been awarded through sole sourcing, while over 400 contracts were competitively tendered. He stressed that all procurement adheres strictly to the Public Procurement Act and its regulations, with full contract details accessible on the Ministry’s website.
The minister highlighted the urgency of addressing Ghana’s deteriorating road network, noting that lengthy procurement processes could delay critical projects and escalate costs. He disclosed that 23 major road projects, inherited from the previous administration and previously unfunded, have been integrated into the Big Push with new financing, including the Suame Interchange, Ofankor–Nsawam Road, and Adenta–Dodowa Road.
Agbodza explained that the programme spans 12 key economic corridors, divided into 54 lots, covering more than 2,000 kilometres of roads nationwide. Measures such as in-house surveys, independent value-for-money assessments, and strict payment verification are being implemented to ensure transparency and accountability.
He also countered criticisms based on cost-per-kilometre comparisons, emphasizing that project complexity, additional infrastructure like bridges and interchanges, and varying engineering demands make such comparisons unreliable.
Contrasting the current administration with the previous one, Agbodza noted that many inherited projects lacked proper authorisation and competitive bidding, contributing to arrears exceeding GHS 40 billion, with over GHS 11 billion already paid to reduce debt.
The minister urged Parliament and the public to support the Big Push, warning that misinformation about sole sourcing could undermine the programme’s goals of creating jobs, lowering transport costs, and boosting national economic growth.
