Mahama’s Sole-Sourcing Awarded 81 Contracts Cost GH₵73 billion This Year
Mahama’s Anti-Sole Sourcing Promise Questioned Amid Rising Road Contracts
President John Dramani Mahama has come under scrutiny over his administration’s continued use of sole-sourced contracts, despite repeated pledges to curb the practice and promote transparency in public procurement. During his campaign and early days in office, President Mahama vowed to reform Ghana’s procurement system. He emphasized that sole sourcing would be minimized and used only in exceptional circumstances, with a stronger focus on competitive bidding under his flagship “Big Push” infrastructure program.
President Mahama Speaking in National Economic Dialogue
Speaking at the National Economic Dialogue in Accra, President Mahama described the excessive use of sole sourcing as a major contributor to inflated contract costs and financial losses to the state. “Single-source procurement must be the rare exception rather than the norm,” he stated. The President reiterated this commitment during the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA), where he announced plans to introduce legislation to tighten procurement processes and restrict sole sourcing. However, recent data have raised concerns about the government’s adherence to these promises.
Investigations indicate that the ministry responsible for roads has awarded a significant number of contracts through sole sourcing. Over the past seven months, the ministry reportedly issued 107 road contracts, with none awarded through competitive tendering.
Out of these:
- 81 contracts, valued at over GH₵73 billion, were awarded through sole sourcing
- 26 contracts, worth approximately GH₵8 billion, were issued through selective tendering
This means more than 90% of road contract funds under the government’s infrastructure drive have been allocated without open competitive bidding. Critics argue that this trend directly contradicts the president’s public stance on procurement reforms and raises questions about transparency and accountability in government spending. Meanwhile, the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, told Parliament on March 11, 2026, that “Let it be known that the era of sole-source contracts is dead.” His statement has since sparked debate, with observers pointing to the ongoing contract awards as evidence of a disconnect between policy pronouncements and actual practice.
The situation has intensified calls for the government to align its actions with its commitments and ensure stricter enforcement of procurement regulations.
