Accra, Ghana – Barely one year into his second term, President John Dramani Mahama’s repeated public vows to end the “excessive abuse” of sole-sourcing in public procurement are facing mounting criticism.

A now-viral investigative report has revealed that the Ministry of Roads and Highways has awarded 81 sole-sourced road contracts worth over GH¢73 billion under the flagship “Big Push” infrastructure program.

In his first State of the Nation Address on February 27, 2025, President Mahama pledged to minimize sole-source procurement, describing it as a major drain on national finances.

He repeated the commitment at the National Economic Dialogue and again during the 2026 State of the Nation Address, promising legislation to ban sole-sourcing except in exceptional circumstances. The pledge was also a central feature of the NDC’s 2020 and 2024 manifestos.

Yet, according to data obtained by The Fourth Estate through Right to Information requests, not a single one of the 107 road contracts awarded by the Ministry of Roads and Highways between September 2025 and March 2026 was through competitive tendering. Of these, 81 contracts — representing over 90% of the total value — were awarded through sole-sourcing, while the remaining 26 were through selective tendering.

The revelations have triggered sharp public and political backlash. Civil society leaders, including Mary Addah of Transparency International Ghana, Ben Boakye of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy, and Franklin Cudjoe of IMANI Africa, have condemned the scale of sole-sourcing as a betrayal of the President’s promises and a threat to transparency and value for money.

On social media, the criticism has been particularly intense.

Ghanaians on Twitter and Facebook have accused the Mahama government of “selective amnesia,” pointing out that many leading NDC figures — including current ministers — had strongly criticized sole-sourcing when they were in opposition.

The controversy is now threatening to erode public goodwill toward the Mahama administration’s second term, with many Ghanaians questioning whether the “Resetting Ghana” agenda can deliver on its core promise of prudent public financial management.

The Ministry of Roads and Highways has defended the awards, arguing that restrictive tendering was used to ensure rapid project commencement after extensive engineering studies. However, the data obtained contradicts claims that competitive processes were the norm.

Ghanaians are watching to see whether the promised legislation to tighten procurement rules will materialize or whether the pattern of sole-sourcing will continue to define the Big Push program.

We have curated the most relevant and impactful stories from Ghana for your enjoyment and awareness.

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The cause of the collapse is under investigation, with preliminary reports pointing to possible structural weaknesses or non-adherence to building regulations.
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Big Push Sole-Sourced Contracts: Roads Minister Must Resign or Be Sacked – Dr Bomfeh
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Mahama Returns from UNGA to Warm Reception in Accra
President John Dramani Mahama has returned from the United Nations General Assembly in New York to a warm reception at Kotoka International Airport. The President was welcomed by senior government officials, party executives, and supporters who gathered to celebrate Ghana’s successful passage of the historic UN resolution on reparatory justice for the transatlantic slave trade.
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Tomato Prices Soar as Traders Push for Urgent Boost in Local Production
Tomato prices have surged in major markets across Ghana following Burkina Faso’s ban on fresh tomato exports. Traders and consumers are feeling the pinch, with some markets recording price increases of up to 50%. Stakeholders are calling on the government to urgently support local tomato production and processing to reduce reliance on imports and stabilise prices.
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Monday, March 30, 2026. Stay informed with today’s front pages of Ghanaian newspapers, all in one place.