In a decisive move toward accountable governance, the Government has released the findings of a comprehensive 72-page investigation into allegations of procurement irregularities within the Ministry of Roads and Highways.

At a press conference, the Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, detailed the findings of the report, which was commissioned by H.E. President John Mahama following publications by the Fourth Estate and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA).

The investigation, conducted by the Senior Presidential Advisor on Governmental Affairs, Dr Valerie Sawyerr, concluded that the Ministry of Roads and Highways acted within legal boundaries and did not abuse the single-sourcing process. Crucially, the report reveals that competitive tendering remains the overwhelming norm for government road projects.

Debunking the “Sole-Source Factory” Narrative.The Minister addressed the primary claim that the Ministry of Roads and Highways had become a “sole-source factory.” Documentary evidence presented in the report tells a different story.

Out of 1,441 road project contracts awarded under the current administration, a staggering 90.28% (1,301 projects) were awarded through open or competitive tendering. Single sourcing accounted for only 4.58% of total contracts awarded in 2025 and 2026.

“The data refutes any claim that the Ministry acted in disregard of the President’s directive on fiscal prudence,” Minister Kwakye Ofosu stated. “Competitive bidding is, and remains, the baseline norm.”

The ‘Big Push’: Speed vs. Procedure.The report specifically addressed the “Big Push” initiative—a specialized, rapid-response program designed to fix critical road corridors and stimulate economic growth.

While 47.14% of the 140 projects under this specific initiative utilized single sourcing, the Minister explained that these decisions were guided by strategic national interests, including:1. Accelerated Delivery: Meeting urgent infrastructure needs at an expedited pace.2. National Security: Addressing severe road degradation that posed risks to critical corridors.3. Fiscal Risk Mitigation: Hedging against market inflation and preventing cost escalations.

All single-source applications under the Big Push were legally processed and approved by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) Board.

Clarifying Specific Allegations.The Minister took the opportunity to provide clarity on several high-profile claims raised by the Fourth Estate:

Dodo Pepesu – Nkwanta Road: The Minister clarified that a perceived discrepancy in contract figures was a genuine typographical error in a published list. The actual contract sum of GHC 683.9 million was lower than the government’s authorized limit. Furthermore, the contractor, Messrs Growth 82 Global Limited, was confirmed to be a fully qualified A1B1 contractor, registered since 2020.

The Winneba – Cape Coast Dualisation: Addressing claims of inflated costs, the report explained that the higher cost per kilometer on certain lots is due to complexity, not length. The project includes specialized works such as a 1,200-meter viaduct and four long-span river bridges.

Administrative Errors: Allegations regarding misspelled company names (e.g., “Groth” instead of “Growth”) were found to be simple clerical errors with no evidence of intent to evade public scrutiny.

A Future of Stricter Oversight.While clearing the Ministry of legal wrongdoing, the report acknowledged a “strong public aversion” to single sourcing. In response, President Mahama has committed to a series of landmark reforms to further tighten procurement discretion:

1. Value for Money (VfM) Office: Under the newly enacted VfM Office Act (2026), all high-value single-source contracts must now obtain a Value for Money Certificate before being awarded.

2. Mandatory Cabinet Approval: Moving forward, high-value single-source contracts will require Cabinet-level oversight to ensure maximum fiscal discipline.

3. Legislative Reform: The Ministry of Finance and the Attorney-General are finalizing legislation to ensure single sourcing is used only in truly exceptional circumstances.

4. Open Data Disclosure: Government agencies will be required to publish ultimate beneficial owners and financial valuations of single-source contracts on a centralized e-procurement portal.

ConclusionThe minister praised the role of the media in fostering public accountability, stating that the transparency efforts of the MFWA and the Fourth Estate are essential for a thriving democracy.

“The President is committed to ensuring that every cedi of public funds delivers maximum benefit,” the Minister concluded. “By integrating the Value for Money Office and tightening legislative controls, we are ensuring that our infrastructure drive—the Big Push—is executed with both speed and absolute integrity.”

Click below to download the full 72-page report.

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