News:
March 24, 2026
The Minority in Parliament is calling on the government to publish the full details of all road contracts awarded under the flagship ‘Big Push’ infrastructure programme, citing the need for transparency in the use of an estimated GH¢50 billion in public funds.
Speaking at a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday, the Caucus stressed that the scale of the investment requires rigorous public scrutiny to safeguard trust.
Concern Over Procurement Process
While expressing support for the policy’s objectives, Ranking Member on the Roads and Transport Committee, Kennedy Nyarko Osei, revealed that the Minority has concerns regarding the awarding of the initial 50 road projects.
“The Big Push programme is in principle a commendable initiative. If adequately resourced and efficiently implemented, it has the potential to significantly improve connectivity and open up key economic corridors,” Mr. Osei stated.
He added: “We on the Minority side are not opposed to the policy itself. Our concern, however, lies with the process through which the initial 50 projects have been awarded.”
What the Minority Wants Published
Mr. Osei outlined the specific details the government must urgently disclose to ensure accountability:
· Names of contractors awarded the projects.
· Scope of works assigned under each contract.
· Unit cost per kilometre for the various road projects.
According to the Ranking Member, this level of disclosure is essential to eliminate suspicion and allow Ghanaians to independently assess the value and fairness of the contracts.
“Even after the award of these contracts, they should be advertised. Ghanaians have the right to know how these funds are being allocated given the scale and significance of the programme,” he said.
A Call for Consistency
Citing figures from the 2026 State of the Nation Address, Mr. Osei noted the programme is expected to cost taxpayers approximately GH¢50 billion. He argued that such a significant investment demands stronger transparency safeguards.
He also highlighted what he described as a double standard, recalling the government’s past criticisms of procurement practices while in opposition.
“These are issues the current government spoke vehemently against while in opposition. There is therefore a legitimate expectation that, once in government, higher standards of transparency would be upheld,” he noted.
Providing Benchmarks for Evaluation
To aid public evaluation once the contract details are released, Mr. Osei provided estimated industry benchmarks for road construction costs:
· Bitumen surface roads: USD 400,000 – USD 650,000 per kilometre
· Surface dressing roads: USD 600,000 – USD 800,000 per kilometre
· Single carriageway asphaltic overlays: USD 1.2 million – USD 1.8 million per kilometre
· Dual carriageway overlays: USD 2.5 million – USD 4 million per kilometre
He suggested these figures should serve as a guide for Ghanaians to determine whether project pricing falls within acceptable limits.
Final Demand
The Minority has challenged the government to immediately publish all relevant details of the 50 ‘Big Push’ road contracts, insisting that full transparency is the only way to strengthen accountability and bolster public confidence in the delivery of critical infrastructure.
Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com