Fresh debate over the government’s “Big Push” infrastructure agenda has intensified after Professor David Millar defended sole sourcing, arguing that the often-criticised procurement method is both misunderstood and necessary for effective project delivery.
Speaking on A1 Radio’s Daybreak Upper East on April 3, 2026, the President of Millar Open University and former Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies pushed back against calls to abolish sole sourcing, saying such arguments overlook the realities of development planning.
Prof. Millar, who has served on several public and private boards, including the National Development Planning Commission, where he chaired the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, grounded his views in decades of policy and field experience.
“The institution that introduced sole sourcing to Ghana is the World Bank,” he said, referencing his role as manager of the Savannah Resource Management Project in 1999, when the approach was first applied in the country.
His comments come amid increased scrutiny of the government’s “Big Push” policy, an infrastructure programme aimed at accelerating development while supporting local contractors. Critics have questioned the use of sole sourcing, citing concerns over transparency and value for money.
But Prof. Millar argued that eliminating the method entirely would be misguided.
“You sole source to save time and to ensure quality. You open tender to reduce cost and introduce competition, but you might end up with the wrong product,” he said.
He rejected blanket opposition to the practice, stressing that procurement is not a one-size-fits-all process.
“When I hear someone say we must stop sole sourcing entirely, no—that’s not how procurement works,” he said.
Instead, he called for regulation and clear limits, suggesting that only a portion of public projects should be awarded through sole sourcing.
“We can put measures in place. For instance, not more than 20% of road projects should be sole sourced. The rest can be competitive,” he said.
Prof. Millar also argued that sole sourcing can help protect and grow local contractors, warning that unrestricted open tendering could favour foreign firms.
“If it had been open tender, most of the contracts would have gone to outsiders—Chinese, Japanese, Koreans. They bid low, yes, but at what cost?” he said.
Challenging the assumption that lower bids guarantee better outcomes, he added: “Don’t compare low cost with quality. The two are not the same.”
He cited examples of local firms delivering effectively, noting that Ghanaian contractors have demonstrated capacity in executing projects.
Beyond cost and delivery, Prof. Millar raised concerns about sustainability, particularly the difficulty of maintaining projects handled by foreign contractors after completion.
“You bring in foreign contractors. They finish and leave. When it’s time for maintenance, where are they?” he asked.
Drawing on personal experience, he said securing follow-up support from external contractors can be difficult once they exit, underscoring the need to consider long-term implications in procurement decisions.
For Prof. Millar, the solution lies in balance—combining sole sourcing and competitive tendering within defined limits to achieve efficiency, quality, and sustainability.
“If you rely only on open tendering, you may end up with more problems than solutions,” he cautioned.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Seidu Mutawakil | Bolgatanga
