In a pointed intervention into Ghana’s swirling political debate over infrastructure spending, Dr. Razak Kojo Opoku, former PRO of the National Lottery Authority, has mounted a vigorous defense of the government's procurement strategy. Addressing recent "scandals" highlighted by civil society, Dr. Opoku argued that awarding 44% of "Big Push" road
contracts via sole-sourcing is not a sign of corruption, but a calculated move to empower Ghanaian entrepreneurs.
According to Dr. Opoku, the demonization of non-competitive tendering is often fueled by "political mischief" rather than an objective assessment of national development needs.
1. The Legal Framework: Acts 663 & 914
Dr. Opoku reminded critics that Single-Source Procurement and Restricted Tendering are globally recognized procedures enshrined in Ghana’s own laws—specifically the Public Procurement Act 2003 (Act 663) and its 2016 amendment (Act 914).
He challenged those who label these methods as inherently corrupt to seek further amendments to the law to criminalize them entirely. "If single-source procurement amounted to corruption, then let us completely remove it from our statutes," he stated, noting that even international bodies like the IMF and World Bank utilize these methods for specific, high-priority needs.
2. Beyond the "Accountability Anthem"
Dr. Opoku took aim at certain Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Think Tanks, accusing them of hiding behind the "Value for Money" anthem to frustrate indigenous growth. He suggested that if these same contracts were awarded to foreign firms, there would be significantly less outcry.
What Citizens Should Actually Audit: Rather than focusing solely on the method of award, Dr. Opoku urged Ghanaians to focus on the merit of the outcome:
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Competence & Capacity: Does the local contractor have the ability to deliver?
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Fair Pricing: Is there evidence of overpricing or "kick-backs"?
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Unique Expertise: Does the project require specific technology that justifies an exclusivity license?
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Timeliness: Is the project being delivered on schedule to meet urgent national needs?
3. Strategic Use Cases for Sole-Sourcing
The statement argued that sole-sourcing is essential for accelerating development in high-stakes sectors. Dr. Opoku pointed to global superpowers like the USA, China, and Russia, which use restricted tendering for:
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Military & National Security: Where confidentiality is paramount.
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Technology-Based Business: Especially in the space of Digitalization.
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Urgent Infrastructure: Where the delay of a competitive bid could harm the national economy.
The "Big Push" Road Statistics: | Project Type | Procurement Method | Primary Objective | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | General Roads | Competitive Tendering | Transparency & Market Pricing | | Big Push (44%) | Sole-Sourced (Local) | Indigenous Wealth Creation | | Strategic Tech | Exclusivity License | National Security & Innovation |
4. A Call for Bi-Partisan Principles
The most striking part of the defense was Dr. Opoku’s critique of the "political flip-flop" in Ghana. He noted that politicians often attack sole-sourcing in opposition only to defend it once in power. He called for a bi-partisan consensus to award 10-50% of government projects to local entrepreneurs through these methods to stabilize the currency and create jobs.
The Bottom Line
Dr. Razak Opoku’s stance represents an "Economic Sovereignty Reset." His argument pivots the conversation from "how" a contract is awarded to "who" benefits from it. If the goal is to build a robust local economy, he suggests that sole-sourcing is not a scandal, but a necessity—provided the roads are built well, priced fairly, and delivered by competent Ghanaian hands.
