Controversy Deepens Over Ghana’s ‘Big Push’ Infrastructure Program Amid Sole-Sourcing Allegations

The Government of Ghana’s ambitious 'Big Push' infrastructure initiative, designed to revolutionize the nation’s road network, has come under intense scrutiny following allegations of widespread procurement irregularities. While Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Alhassan Suhuyini, maintains that the program is a groundbreaking effort to fix long-standing transport gaps, a report by The Fourth Estate has ignited a fierce national debate. The investigation alleges that over GH¢73 billion in contracts were awarded through sole-sourcing within a seven-month period, raising serious concerns regarding transparency, competitive bidding, and the potential for cost inflation in projects personally overseen by President John Dramani Mahama.

Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), has been a vocal critic, revealing that official records obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act show that none of the 107 contracts analyzed underwent competitive bidding. Braimah further highlighted alarming details concerning the capacity of the selected firms, noting instances where companies with as few as one or four employees were handed major contracts. Some firms were reportedly established as recently as January 2025, just weeks before being awarded significant projects. Braimah characterized the Ministry’s response to these findings as "hollow," emphasizing that the data originated from the Ministry’s own 'Big Push' Master Register.

In defense of the administration, Minister for Roads and Highways Governs Kwame Agbodza and his deputy, Alhassan Suhuyini, have disputed the scale of the allegations. They assert that only 44% of the major contracts were sole-sourced, rather than the 100% suggested by critics. Suhuyini further argued that the current administration has actually implemented reforms to reduce the total reliance on sole-sourcing seen in previous years, warning that underperforming contractors now risk immediate termination. However, Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah dismissed these claims, arguing that the government’s continued use of non-competitive procurement contradicts its 'reset' agenda and undermines public trust.

The legislative response to these procurement challenges—the Value for Money Office Bill 2026—has also faced significant pushback from experts. While Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson champions the bill as a tool to eliminate inefficiencies, procurement specialist Kobina Ata-Bedu and IMANI Africa’s Kofi Bentil have labeled it redundant. They argue that existing laws, such as the Public Financial Management Act and the Public Procurement Act, already provide the necessary framework for accountability. The core issue, according to Bentil, is not a lack of legislation but a failure of leadership to enforce existing penalties and ensure a complete abolition of sole-sourcing abuse.

As the 'Big Push' continues to expand across the country, the political stakes remain high, with observers suggesting that the successful completion of flagship projects like the Kumasi Expressway could be a decisive factor in the next election. Nevertheless, the ongoing friction between the government, civil society, and opposition lawmakers underscores a critical need for enhanced transparency. The consensus among anti-corruption advocates is that for Ghana to achieve true value for money, there must be stronger collaboration between the media, the judiciary, and oversight bodies to ensure that investigative findings lead to tangible legal accountability.