President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government will introduce amendments to the Public Procurement Act to restrict single sourcing, a move aimed at enhancing transparency and ensuring value for money in public projects.
The announcement was made on Monday, March 30, during a meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at the Jubilee House in Accra. The President said the reforms are part of measures to address concerns raised by a recent investigative report by The Fourth Estate on the Big Push Programme.
The report alleged that the Minister of Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza oversaw 81 sole-sourced contracts worth over GH¢73 billion in just seven months, raising questions about procurement transparency and potential cost inflation.
“I note the recent expose by the Fourth Estate on procurement processes related to the award of contracts under the Big Push Programme. While sole sourcing is legal under certain circumstances, open, transparent tenders are always preferable for achieving competitive pricing and value for money,” President Mahama said.
He directed his office to obtain the full report from The Fourth Estate and study the allegations in detail. He also asked the Ministry of Roads and Highways to submit a comprehensive response to guide government action.
“It is precisely for such situations that I announce that government will introduce amendments to the Public Procurement Act to limit single sourcing, promote greater transparency, and ensure proper value for money for the funds we spend on projects,” the President said.
Mahama further revealed that the Ministry of Finance has been tasked to fast-track the establishment of an Independent Value for Money Office, which will scrutinise all single-source procurements under the revised legislation.
“Single sourcing must be used as sparingly as possible, and we will consult with civil society on the new legislation we propose to restrict its use,” he added.
The President also called on civil society to actively monitor public projects and budget execution to strengthen social accountability.
“Together we can rebuild and strengthen public trust in our institutions,” he said.
Source:CNR
