The Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) is calling for a serious look into the government’s “Big Push” road projects. They’ve asked the Auditor-General to conduct an independent technical audit to ensure public funds are being used wisely. It’s a move driven by growing public anxiety over how these massive infrastructure contracts are being awarded.
This demand comes after investigative reports by ‘The Fourth Estate’ highlighted a worrying trend in procurement. The reports revealed that the Ministry of Roads and Highways has relied heavily on Single Source Procurement and Restricted Tendering. These findings sparked a national debate about whether the government is following procurement laws and engineering standards.
The financial stakes are incredibly high, with an estimated GH¢110 billion investment, of which GH¢85 billion is already committed. GhIE argues that such a massive expenditure must be scrutinized to “safeguard the national interest” and ensure every cedi provides “measurable value, efficiency, and tangible benefits to the Ghanaian people.” They want the audit to cover everything from initial feasibility and design to environmental compliance.
While President John Dramani Mahama has asked the Minister for Roads and Highways to address the allegations, GhIE believes only an independent audit can restore public trust. They pointed to Section 16 of the Audit Service Act, 2000 (Act 584), which allows the Auditor-General to perform special audits in the public interest. Without this, there’s a risk that the quality and sustainability of the roads could be compromised.
The GhIE isn’t looking to point fingers or assign blame, but rather to fix systemic gaps in how Ghana handles its infrastructure. They’ve offered their own technical expertise to help the Auditor-General make the process as thorough as possible. By sticking to the Public Procurement Act of 2003, the institution believes Ghana can ensure fairness and transparency in its national investments.
