Hon Kwame Governs Agbodza
Adaklu
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to present to you an update on President Mahama’s flagship infrastructure development project, the Big Push.
Mr Speaker, you may recall that President Mahama dedicated the first two years of the Big Push Programme to address the unprecedented, deplorable state of our road network. Through the Big Push Infrastructure Programme launched in 2025, the Government is investing heavily in repairing critical roads, upgrading key economic corridors, creating jobs, and reducing the cost of doing business across all 16 regions. The Programme places strong emphasis on Ghanaian contractors and workers, helping to strengthen local technical expertise in the construction sector.
Mr Speaker, the Big Push Programme has received strong support from Parliament so far. This House has approved nearly GH₵50 billion for these multi-year road and bridge projects. We appreciate the support from Leadership and Members of this House. As I speak, over 2000 km of roads in all 16 regions of our country are under extensive transformation.
Mr Speaker, in times past, we have all been concerned by the state of our roads, mindful of the amount of money invested. In the spirit of probity, accountability, and transparency, we encourage the public to remain engaged in monitoring the project in their localities, and we always appreciate their constructive feedback.
Mr Speaker, recently, an online platform requested details about ongoing road projects, and same was willingly and timeously provided. There was no attempt to conceal any information. Mr Speaker, no ministry is subjected to as much consistent scrutiny as the Ministry of Roads and Highways. On average, about 10 Questions are filed weekly, covering wide-ranging issues from contract awards to project costs and timeliness. The Ministry also regularly gets invitations from Committees of Parliament to respond to developments within the sector.
Mr Speaker, I welcome the scrutiny. It strengthens accountability and ensures that we remain aligned with the expectations of the Ghanaian people. I wish to assure the House that I take the responsibility entrusted to me with utmost seriousness. I remain fully committed to delivering on our mandate with integrity, transparency, and efficiency.
Mr Speaker, prior to the 2024 election, it was clear that the majority of Ghanaians were not happy with the deplorable and dangerous nature of roads across the country. They made it a condition that when given the mandate, the Government of President Mahama should take urgent and immediate steps to improve the country’s road network. This has been justifiably followed by consistent Questions of timeliness from Members of this House concerning when the roads in their constituencies would be improved.
Mr Speaker, this is a House of record. Let me state unequivocally that all contracts awarded under the Programme were done in strict adherence to the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) and its accompanying regulations. Mr Speaker, all contractual information is publicly available and on the Ministry’s website. The original Big Push project identified 12 major economic corridors across the country, which were christened the 12 Disciples. These projects were later broken into 54 lots to speed up implementation and foster competition.
Mr Speaker, additionally, 23 road projects valued at GH₵14.88 billion, which were awarded by the previous administration and abandoned by contractors due to lack of dedicated funding, were absorbed as part of the Big Push. These projects were novated to be ‘Big Push’ under the new funding.
Mr Speaker, these are some of the projects: the design and construction of Suame Interchange and Ancillary works (Phase I), design and construction of Suame Interchange Local Roads (Phase II), Takoradi-Agona Rehabilitation and Dualisation, including two dual carriageway Bridges, rehabilitation of TepaMabangoso Road, reconstruction of Jinijini-Sampa Road, rehabilitation and upgrading of Kasoa-Winneba Road, rehabilitation of Kasoa-Winneba (Lots 1-3), rehabilitation of Ofankor-Nsawam Road, design, build, and dualisation of Adenta-Dodowa, upgrade of Nkwanta– Oti Damanko Road (Km 0.0–50.3), upgrade of Tumu–Sisili–Navrongo Road, upgrade of Tumu-ChuchuligaNavrongo Road, partial reconstruction of Navrongo-Chuchuliga-Tumu Road, upgrade of Tumu–Han–Lawra Road (Km 45–70), all the way to the upgrade of Tumu–Han–Lawra Road, construction of National Route 8 (Wa–Han–Lawra Road), rehabilitation of Hohoe-Jasikan, and then construction of Have-Hohoe Road.
Mr Speaker, globally, sole sourcing is acceptable in situations where there is a need to extend the implementation of works which were previously competitively procured to speed up completion. The 23 projects I talked about that we novated, none of them were competitively procured. They were all sole sourced contracts which were novated at a cost of GH₵14.8 billion.
Mr Speaker, given the scale, agency, and national importance of these projects, a mix of procurement methods was employed in accordance with the law. It is important to note that only 44 per cent of all the major contracts included in the Big Push Programme were awarded by the Ministry under sole sourcing. So, it is not what has been published by a certain online portal. We have also awarded over 400 different contracts through open competitive bidding, which is unprecedented. The record shows that from 2017 to 2024, almost all projects that the Ministry carried out were sole-sourced. It will therefore be mischievous for any rightthinking member of society to conclude that the Ministry of Roads and Highways only procures works through sole sourcing.
Mr Speaker, I have already mentioned the deplorable state of the road network across the country which we inherited from our Colleagues. This had brought untold hardship to the motoring public and contributed massively to the food inflation which led to public agitation and the survival of the state. Mr Speaker, something needed to be done and done urgently.
Mr Speaker, with dedicated funding already secured under the Big Push programme, it was both prudent and necessary to proceed swiftly to ensure value for money and avoid cost overruns associated with long procurement and implementation timelines. Mr Speaker, most of the projects would not have started to date if we had not adopted a faster route. The following projects, for example, would not have been continued or started: the Kasoa-Winneba Road and Kasoa interchange, which is in the Constituency of my good Friend, the Hon Minority Leader; the dualisation of Winneba-Cape Coast Road; the Suame Interchange project which was stalled but now has gotten a new life; the Kumasi Outer Ring Road; and the Ofankor-Nsawam road are part of this.
Mr Speaker, we put in place the following mechanisms to ensure value for money in terms of cost, quality and longevity. Contrary to the previous practice, under the Big Push Programme, agencies did their own survey design and costing, saving billions. Mr Speaker, I say this because in the past, this project would have been designed and build. But by asking the agencies to actually do our own design costing, we have saved at least 5 per cent of the cost of the project. So, we have started saving money on this project, making sure that the country gets the best in terms of the value for money.
Contractors were then invited to submit proposals which were then subjected to independent value for money assessment. We have instituted a stricter monitoring and cost control mechanism to ensure we only pay for works done. We have now established a system where no contractor would walk away with a cedi without working for it. We have also reached an understanding with the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS) to develop the local capacity of members to be licensed as independent value for money auditors.
Mr Speaker, it is important to point out the deliberate falsehood that rely on simplified metrics such as cost per kilometre without considering the scope of works. For the avoidance of doubt, under the reset leadership of President Mahama, road projects have not been unjustifiably suspended or terminated. The huge unpaid debt of over GH₵40 billion has also received attention of the Government. Over GH₵11 billion has been paid so far to contracts all awarded or inherited from our Brothers from the other Side. The Government has not abandoned any ongoing project. Indeed, the Accra-Kumasi Bypass project has not been abandoned.
We have completed one of the lots and have taken it over. The rest of the lots have been programmed to be budgeted for in the 2027 Budget if Parliament approves. However, the cost to complete, including the outstanding debt of the Kumasi Bypasses, is estimated at GH₵6 billion as at today.
Mr Speaker, let me state emphatically that when it comes to the Big Push Programme, Parliament exercised continuous oversight. Questions are answered regularly on the floor of the House. Independent professional bodies validated the project cost. Procurement processes complied with established legal framework. There is no abuse of the sole sourcing programme. Unlike previously, it is the exception and not the norm. Indeed, no procurement law or any other law has been breached, and definitely there is no scandal. The implementation of the Big Push programme—
Mr Speaker, I say this as a matter of fact. I am not responding to anybody except those who are falsifying information on social media. The NDC did not award over GH₵70 billion worth of work under the Big Push. Indeed, we said GH₵54 billion of that was for new works, and then the 23 projects were projects that we inherited costing another GH₵14.8 billion.
Indeed, Mr Speaker, there is spurious information online that 76 per cent of the projects is sole sourced also false. Only about 44 per cent of those projects were procured through sole sourcing. I state on record, Mr Speaker, we are making progress as a House and as a country to make sure that much of our procurement is done competitively. That is why I am saying that those who claim to have done this so-called analysis based on data we submitted to them freely did not help the country because if they did due diligence, they would have known that those percentages they put outside were pure fabrications and false.
Indeed, Mr Speaker, the Government of President Mahama has taken steps to improve the procurement process. As a matter of fact, as I said, I am not having a go at our Colleagues on the other Side. I say that today as Minister, almost the GH₵110 billion worth of projects we inherited were all procured through sole sourcing. I do not blame them, Mr Speaker. I sat on that Side of the House not too long ago when the people of Suame demonstrated against the respected former Leader, Hon KyeiMensah-Bonsu, I supported the fact that we should procure the Suame Interchange project through sole sourcing because it was urgent and we needed to do it. When the Accra-Tema Motorway project was awarded to Mota-Engil, a foreign company, and they could not raise the financing, I was one of the first people to say let us terminate the work and get a Ghanaian contractor to do it.
In this House, we also agreed that that project should also be awarded on sole sourcing to the contractor, Maripoma Enterprise Limited. I say this simply because the impression is that when we were in opposition, we said nothing about sole sourcing was good, and now that we are in government, we are doing the opposite.
Mr Speaker, what I presented to you today shows that everything has to be done in context. What I will say here, contractors on all Big Push projects are on site and works are ongoing, and by the end of 2027, Mr Speaker, we would see a lot of completed road projects that will enhance our economy, make our roads safer. This is why I tell Colleagues, let us work together to make sure that we protect the Big Push. Let us not fall for any agenda of anybody outside of this House. This is the House of Parliament. The debate, the formulation of policy of anything that has to do with governance stands here, and not anybody outside.
I want to take the opportunity to thank the entire country for the support they have given to the Big Push programme. President Mahama is not in the business of skewing anything to disadvantage the people of Ghana. Contractors on Big Push projects are on site, and works are ongoing, and shall be completed on schedule and on budget.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity.
I have in my hands a document that I will table, Mr Speaker, that contain advertisements of all the projects we advertised. Over 400 of them were competitively awarded. So those who are basing on 70 projects to strike out at the difference, this is the information I have for them. Majority of the projects we are embarking on were actually procured through competitive bidding. I also mentioned that all that we are doing with regard to the Big Push project are already on our website, so we are not concealing any information. In terms of the description of the project, the scope of work, the name of the contractor, the day the contract starts and when it is expected to be completed are there. So, nobody has gotten a scoop, and indeed, Mr Speaker, there is no scandal about the Big Push. 2:32 p.m. The Big Push Programme was approved by this House and we shall make sure that it delivers to the people of our country.
Hon Laadi Ayii Ayamba
Pusiga
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to comment on the Statement ably made by the Minister.
Mr Speaker, the issue of roads is an issue that every Ghanaian is interested in and wishes that it goes well. I sat quietly and I listened to the Minister and as a person who has been on the Committee on Roads and Transportation, I am not in doubt of what I am saying neither am I in doubt of what the Minister said. I just listened to my former Chairperson of the Committee on Roads and Transportation and interestingly, he made a statement that surprised me about the Akroso road where he supposes that the Minister could have given it to the contractor that was on site and it sounds like a dream to me, because I have never seen them do that. I never saw the New Patriotic Party (NPP), for that matter, do that. All I saw was that they came and rather stopped road projects.
The road from Bolgatanga – Bawku – Pulmakom, my own constituency, was stopped barely two weeks after they came into power. We were not asking for them to continue to any other place, but for the work to be continued. It never happened for the eight years. So, listening to them, it sounds like a dream to me.
Mr Speaker, he also mentioned that the Minister should have mentioned some of the roads that were given through sole sourcing, but he did not do it. And I would mention but a few to you for your consumption and maybe if he needs more, he could get them later from the Minister for Roads and Highways.
Mr Speaker, the roads are rehabilitation of Odenteng – Boahen area roads, 3.6 km. When one checks, one would find that it was not advertised. There was no competitive tendering. Bantama area and its environs, 10.50 km, Phase 2: there was no competitive tendering. Bantama and its environs, Phase 1: no competitive tendering. Pothole patching, sectional repairs and resealing of arterial roads in Oforikrom: no competitive tendering. And yet, this is what a former Chairperson is talking about.
Mr Speaker, it is unfortunate that the Minister for Roads and Highways in his presentation mentioned how much they left in debt. They left in debt with some roads costing not less than GH₵14.88 billion. When our Government came into office, we never stopped those projects; the projects have been listed on the page numbered 4 of his Statement. I think we should appreciate the fact that this Government never abandoned those projects because, we need the roads. We are not denying the fact that they are talking about the awarding of contracts through sole sourcing of contracts. But they should know that they have done it, and we have all the information with us.
Mr Speaker, I want to encourage the Minister to continue with his good works and also to let them know that out of the 2,000-kilometre roads that are being done, the Upper East, especially, Pusiga is benefiting. We have Sanam Ghana Limited working from Yariga Number 2 to Pusiga Town and we also have Pezzo Construction, working from Wuyana Town to Yariga Number 2 and we have others for now.
Hon Samuel Abdulai Jinapor
Damongo
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, the Statement made by the Minister for Roads and Highways and the comments relating to the Statement should go beyond the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) contestations; it should go beyond Pusiga as well.
Mr Speaker, with the greatest of respect to my big Sister, this is really not a matter of point scoring. It is the Fourth Estate that put out an exposé relating to the number of sole-sourced contracts under the Ministry of Roads and Highways. The Minister has found it prudent to make a Statement more or less in response to the Report put out by the Fourth Estate.
Mr Speaker, before I say anything further, may I refer the House to the page numbered 6 of the Minister’s own Statement, specifically, the paragraph numbered 24. In that paragraph, the Minister concedes that 44 per cent of all the major contracts, including, in this case to quote him, “The Big Push Contracts” awarded by his Ministry under President Mahama, were procured through sole-sourcing.
Mr Speaker, I am referring to the almost 50 per cent of the contracts awarded under the Ministry of Roads and Highways which were done through sole-sourcing. This is by the Hon Minister’s own say-so. This is a Statement he has given to Parliament. In other words, the Hon Minister confirms and/or corroborates the report put out by the Fourth Estate, a civil society investigative journalistic Institute. Mr Speaker, that revelation was not made by the Minority; it was not made by the NPP. It was made by the Fourth Estate. The Minister has come to Parliament on the page numbered 6, the paragraph numbered 24 and the Hon Minister has corroborated it.
Mr Speaker, the question I want to ask is that even before that – just last week, we had the Value for Money Office Bill, 2026 before this House and we did debate it. I had the occasion on that day to indicate that, there is a need for us as a country to interrogate the procurement mechanism of solesourcing and restrictive tender. We took some considerable time to distinguish between public competitive tender, restrictive tender, and sole-sourcing.
Mr Speaker, let us face it, when people get agitated and worried about sole-sourcing, it is normally because, civil societies, stakeholders and actors in the body politic seems to think that solesourcing lends itself to opaque transactions and by that, I do not necessarily refer to this instant case. But when people raise issues on why one awards such a contract through solesourcing, the concern globally is normally because, pundits feel that when it is sole-sourced, the room for opaque transaction and underhand dealings is easier.
The Minister has come before us and told us that, he has done half of his contracts through sole-sourcing; he has admitted it. The Fourth Estate has come up with all kinds of suggestions, allegations and so on and so forth—
Hon Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah
Ho West
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, let me commend the Minister for Roads and Highways for bringing this Statement to the fore, in response to some media speculations and media reportage. Mr Speaker, if you would permit me, Section 40 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) which was passed in this House, says that: “A procurement entity may engage in a single-source procurement under section 1, with the approval of the board in the following exceptional circumstances.”
Mr Speaker, this clearly tells you that, indeed, the Law that we passed in this House, has given support to solesourcing. Under which circumstances? The circumstances have been enumerated in the Procurement Act. Mr Speaker, those of us who are in the built-environment industry, have argued in the past, including my Colleague, that sole-sourcing by the previous administration, which was almost 100 per cent, was too much, to the extent that I have to question my own institution, the Ghana Institution of Surveyors, for allowing the institution to be used for some sole sourcing activities. That was 100 per cent sole sourcing and we would ask ourselves that where are we going in this country? The cardinal issue under sole sourcing is the fact that there should be value-formoney auditing or monitoring. The Minister has made it clear that this Big Push contract, which we all know has issues with the media, has value-formoney auditing contract consultant attached to the contract.
Mr Speaker, Paragraph 22 of the Minister’s Statement said, “Mr Speaker, it is globally acceptable to use sole sourcing even in situations where there is a need to extend the implementation of works which were previously competitively procured to speed up completion. Even the above 23 projects were previously procured competitively.” Mr Speaker, clearly, in the previous administration, projects were given out on sole-sourced basis. So, if today, 44 per cent of contracts are given out on sole sourcing and not 100 per cent, this is in the right direction because we are reducing. If it had been 100 per cent, then those of us who were arguing against sole sourcing at that time would also come after the Minister. But I can tell you that reducing it from 100 per cent to 44 per cent is far better than 100 per cent. Not only that. We also have valuefor-money auditors attached to the contract. So if anybody has an issue, all they have to do is to find out whether there is value for money or there is some under dealing in the award of contracts.
Mr Speaker, I am aware that the Kasoa-Winneba Road was sole-sourced until this Government came to regularise it and moved on with the contract. We could have abrogated it because it was under sole sourcing. We all know that the Winneba Interchange was sole-sourced. The dualisation of the Winneba Road was sole-sourced. Suame Interchange was sole-sourced. We all know in this House that they were sole sourced. The Kumasi outer lane was also sole-sourced. But the current Administration and the current Minister decided that even though it was sole-sourced, they would look at it and allow it to go so that the work continue.
Mr Speaker, this clearly shows that we have moved from 100 per cent to 44 per cent and I am sure by the time we finish with the Value-for-Money law, we would come to 0 per cent when it comes to sole sourcing. Mr Speaker, thank you.
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