Former Public Relations Manager of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Razak Kojo Opoku, has argued that there is nothing inherently wrong with awarding a significant portion of government contracts through sole sourcing, insisting that the practice remains a legitimate procurement method under existing laws.
He maintained that if about 44 percent of the Big Push road projects were awarded through sole sourcing to local contractors, particularly as a strategy to empower indigenous businesses, then such a decision should not be treated as controversial.
“If it is true that only 44% of the Big Push road projects were awarded under sole sourcing to local contractors as a means of empowering indigenous entrepreneurs, then what is scandalous about that? Must all contracts undergo competitive tendering before you can assume or expect value for money, transparency, and accountability?” he questioned.
In a statement, Dr Opoku argued that sole sourcing and restricted tendering are globally recognised procurement methods and should not automatically be associated with corruption or misconduct. He suggested that if such methods were to be considered problematic, then the Public Procurement Act would need to be amended to eliminate them entirely and criminalise their use by state institutions.
He further criticised what he described as selective political attacks on procurement practices, stating that positions taken by political actors often change depending on whether they are in government or opposition. According to him, some groups and commentators also exploit procurement debates to create unnecessary controversy around government initiatives aimed at supporting local businesses.
Dr Opoku also questioned the consistency of critics, arguing that similar procurement arrangements have been defended by different political actors at different times, depending on their political standing.
He maintained that sole sourcing, restricted tendering and exclusivity arrangements are widely used across the world, including by governments and international institutions, particularly in areas such as national security, infrastructure and specialised technology projects.
Citing examples from advanced economies, he argued that procurement practices should not be judged in isolation but assessed based on factors such as value for money, competence of contractors, pricing, quality of delivery, and project timelines.
He emphasised that public concern should focus on whether contracts are fairly priced, properly executed, and free from abuse, rather than the procurement method alone. He also raised questions about possible overpricing, approval processes, potential conflicts of interest, and compliance with procurement laws in the award of contracts.
Dr Opoku urged a more balanced national conversation on procurement, cautioning that political narratives and unverified allegations often overshadow substantive discussions about development and economic growth.
He called for bipartisan consensus to strengthen the participation of local businesses in government projects, suggesting that a portion of state contracts be deliberately allocated through sole sourcing and related methods to promote indigenous enterprise, create jobs and support broader economic development.
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