The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Roads and Transport Committee, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, has called on government to fully disclose details of contracts awarded under the flagship “Big Push” infrastructure programme, alleging excessive reliance on sole sourcing and potential cost inflation.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (25 March), Osei Nyarko said transparency must be prioritised in the execution of publicly funded projects, insisting that Ghanaians have a right to scrutinise how taxpayer money is being used.
“Whenever government is applying public funds, there is the need to carry the Ghanaian people along,” he said.
Concerns over sole sourcing
The lawmaker accused the government of awarding a significant number of contracts through sole sourcing within a short period, describing the trend as unprecedented.
“You have awarded about 50 projects within six to seven months, all under sole sourcing. This has never happened in the history of this country,” he claimed.
While acknowledging that Ghana’s procurement law permits sole sourcing under specific conditions, he argued that its application must be justified and not abused.
“It cannot be that all these projects were so urgent that they required sole sourcing,” he added.
Call for contract details
Mr Osei Nyarko said the Minority is demanding disclosure of key contract details, including scope of work, contractor identities and cost per kilometre, to enable independent assessment.
He provided benchmark estimates, stating that road construction costs typically range between $500,000 and $1.5 million per kilometre for surface dressing, and up to $3.5 million for dual carriage roads.
According to him, preliminary information available to the Minority suggests some feeder road contracts may be priced as high as $2.5 million per kilometre.
“When we get the full details, we can scrutinise and determine whether government is paying more than expected,” he said.
He indicated that the Minority could pursue further action if government fails to provide satisfactory disclosure, including invoking parliamentary procedures to investigate the contracts.
“We will use whatever means available, including parliamentary processes, to ensure transparency,” he said.
Abandoned projects raise concerns
Beyond the “Big Push”, Mr Osei Nyarko criticised what he described as a recurring pattern of governments abandoning ongoing infrastructure projects initiated by their predecessors.
He claimed that nearly 80 percent of previously ongoing road projects have been halted, despite significant public investment.
“These are projects funded with taxpayers’ money. Some were near completion, yet they have been abandoned,” he said.
He argued that the practice contributes to inefficiency and financial loss, while delaying development outcomes.
Push for legal reforms
The legislator also expressed support for a potential private member’s bill to restrict incoming governments from initiating new projects before completing inherited ones.
“We need to arrest this as a country. Otherwise, governments will continue to abandon projects and start new ones,” he said.
Debate over procurement practices
On the broader issue of procurement, Mr Osei Nyarko insisted that sole sourcing can be avoided if systems are streamlined and made less bureaucratic.
He attributed delays in competitive procurement processes to inefficiencies and, in some cases, deliberate manipulation.
“Technology has made it possible to complete procurement processes quickly. The delays are often man-made,” he argued.
While conceding that sole sourcing may be necessary in genuine emergencies, he maintained that the provision is being misused.
The Minority says it is currently reviewing documents presented to Parliament on the “Big Push” programme and will determine its next steps based on its findings.
Osei Nyarko stressed that sustained public scrutiny and media follow-up would be critical in ensuring accountability.
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