IMANI Africa’s Senior Vice President, Kofi Bentil, said irregularities in the awarding of contracts under the government’s Big Push infrastructure programme began in the first month of the administration. He said on Newsfile on JoyNews on Saturday, March 28, that he feared over a heavy reliance on sole-sourced contracts. “These ‘cookings’ began in the first month of this government,” Mr Bentil said, also citing non-competitive contracts and opaque procurement practices. Such practices risk undermining transparency and can seriously erode public trust in the execution of major national infrastructure projects, he warned.
Mr. Bentil also tied the management of the Big Push projects to potential political outcomes, highlighting the high stakes. “If this government can achieve 60% of the Big Push projects and they complete the Kumasi Expressway, they will win the next election,” he said. His remarks have emerged amid continued scrutiny from civil society groups and the media over the implementation of the Big Push contracts, particularly the widespread use of sole sourcing, raising significant concerns on efficiency, value-for-money, and accountability in public procurement.
Editor:
Obiri-Yeboah
