Contractor Numbers in Ghana Raise Questions Over Procurement Transparency
Sharp Rise in Contractor Numbers Raises Questions Over Procurement Transparency
New concerns are emerging over Ghana’s public procurement system following a dramatic increase in the number of contractors qualified to undertake government projects. Industry observers say the trend, which spans from 2023 to 2025, requires urgent scrutiny to determine whether due process was followed and whether the system is being used fairly.
Surge in Qualified Contractors
Data from the Ministry of Roads indicates the following:
- As of January 1, 2023, only 283 contractors were qualified
- By late 2024, the number had risen to 1,414
- By December 2025, the figure had surged to 3,464 contractors
Additionally, contractors classified under the “unlimited” category—those eligible to handle projects of any size—reportedly increased from about 40 to nearly 290 within the same period.
Analysts say this rapid expansion raises critical questions about:
- The criteria used for qualification
- The speed of approvals
- Whether standards were maintained or relaxed
Link to Sole-Sourced Contracts
The issue has gained prominence in light of ongoing concerns about the use of sole sourcing under the administration of President John Dramani Mahama. Critics argue that the increase in qualified contractors may be linked to the awarding of contracts without competitive tendering, particularly in the road sector.
They are calling for investigations into:
- How many newly qualified contractors have received government contracts
- Whether contracts are being concentrated among a small group of individuals or entities
- The relationship, if any, between contractors and political actors
Allegations of Contract Flipping
Professionals within the construction industry have also raised concerns about a possible practice known as “contract flipping.”
According to these claims:
- Some contractors may secure contracts through sole sourcing
- They then transfer or sell the contracts to larger, more established firms
- This practice could bypass competitive bidding requirements
Engineers and stakeholders suggest that if contracts were subjected to open tender, many of these firms might not qualify on technical or financial grounds.
Call for Deeper Investigation
Experts insist that to fully understand the issue, authorities must:
- Review the contractor qualification process over the past two years
- Audit the distribution of contracts, especially sole-source ones
- Assess whether procurement laws are being properly enforced
They emphasize that the focus should go beyond surface-level analysis to uncover systemic weaknesses or potential abuse.
Concerns Over Public Funds
At the center of the debate is the scale of public spending involved. Critics argue that billions of Ghana cedis allocated to infrastructure projects must be managed with the highest level of transparency and accountability. They warn that failure to address these concerns could undermine public trust, particularly given earlier commitments by the government to limit sole sourcing and strengthen procurement systems.
While no official findings have confirmed wrongdoing, the combination of:
- Rapid contractor qualification
- Heavy reliance on sole sourcing
- Allegations of contract concentration
has created a growing demand for answers.
Analysts say only a comprehensive, independent review will determine whether the system is functioning as intended—or being manipulated at the expense of the Ghanaian taxpayer.
