Road projects face scrutiny over sole sourcing
Ghana's road contract awards through sole sourcing are under scrutiny. Critics highlight a lack of competitive bidding and question the urgency of projects. The practice may compromise transparency and efficient use of public funds, impacting infrastructure development costs.
Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), has criticized Ghana's use of sole sourcing for road contracts. He argues that current conditions do not justify this procurement method.
This means contracts are awarded to a single firm without competitive bidding. Braimah states road projects do not meet the criteria for urgent sole sourcing. He emphasizes that procurement should be based on merit and open competition. He warns that sole sourcing can reduce transparency and accountability.
Past reports by The Fourth Estate highlighted issues with the government's 'Big Push' initiative. These reports suggest that 107 contracts under this initiative were sole-sourced. This practice reduces competition among contractors.
Sole sourcing can lead to higher costs for government projects. It removes the benefit of competitive pricing. It also may prevent more efficient companies from bidding. This impacts the overall cost of Ghana's infrastructure development. Public funds may not be used efficiently if contracts are not awarded through open bids.
The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, defended the government's approach. He explained that some projects require sole sourcing for continuity and faster delivery. He added that the government aims to complete inherited projects, many restructured under the Big Push due to funding issues.
However, critics suggest that open competitive tendering could be implemented even for urgent projects. Better transparency in contract awards is crucial for public finance and economic efficiency.
Source: StatsGH — Ghana's data-driven news platform