Sammy Gyamfi Defends Sole-Sourcing of Big Push Road Projects, Rejects Claims of Cost Inflation

The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, has defended the government’s decision to use sole-sourcing for key road projects under the Big Push infrastructure initiative, describing the approach as lawful, necessary, and fully justified.

His response follows concerns raised by The Fourth Estate regarding procurement procedures under the Big Push Agenda, including allegations of excessive reliance on sole-sourcing and possible cost inflation. The publication also reported that the Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, supervised the award of 81 sole-sourced contracts valued at over GHS73 billion within seven months.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, Mr. Gyamfi dismissed the allegations, insisting there was “not a scintilla of evidence” to support claims of wrongdoing. He emphasized that all contracts awarded through sole-sourcing under the Big Push programme received approval from the Public Procurement Authority and were subjected to Value for Money audits.

According to him, the urgency of the projects justified the procurement approach adopted by government. He explained that the contracts were awarded to multiple qualified and experienced contractors, with payments strictly tied to work certified by independent consultants.

Mr. Gyamfi also clarified what he described as misconceptions in some media reports, particularly claims suggesting widespread abuse of sole-sourcing by the current administration. He noted that at least 23 of the projects cited were inherited from the previous government and were not newly awarded contracts but rather novated and financed under the Big Push initiative.

He cited major projects such as the Suame Interchange, Ofankor–Nsawam Road, and Adenta–Dodowa Road as examples of inherited contracts that were continued under the programme rather than re-awarded.

While acknowledging that the National Democratic Congress had previously criticised unjustified sole-sourcing practices, Mr. Gyamfi stressed that the party never opposed the method entirely but only objected to its misuse. He maintained that in the case of the Big Push projects, the approach was necessary to accelerate delivery timelines and avoid delays associated with lengthy competitive tendering processes.

He further referenced past procurement experiences, including the Road Toll project, where competitive tendering reportedly extended beyond a year due to procedural complexities.

The statement reinforces government’s position that sole-sourcing, when properly approved and transparently executed, can serve as a legitimate tool to fast-track critical national infrastructure projects while maintaining accountability and value for money.