Anti-corruption advocate Vitus Azeem has called on John Dramani Mahama to rein in his ministers and ensure strict compliance with Ghana’s procurement laws, following revelations of widespread sole-sourced contracts in the road sector.
Speaking on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East on Friday, March 27, 2026, Mr. Azeem said Ghana’s challenge is not the absence of laws but the failure to enforce them.
“The president needs to call his ministers to order. The laws are there, but we are not complying. Somebody must say ‘Stop what you are doing and do it the right way,’” he stressed.
His comments follow an investigation by The Fourth Estate, which found that the Ministry of Roads and Highways awarded 81 sole-sourced contracts worth more than GHS73 billion within seven months, despite the President’s pledge to minimise such practices.
The findings have raised concerns about the government’s commitment to its own procurement policies, particularly after repeated assurances that sole-sourcing would be limited to exceptional cases. Data cited in the report indicates that a significant portion of contracts under the government’s flagship road programme were awarded without competitive tendering.
Mr. Azeem cautioned against calls for new legislation as a solution, noting that existing laws already provide adequate safeguards.
“Passing more laws doesn’t solve the problem. We already have enough laws. This week, they passed the Value for Money Bill, but it’s doing almost the same thing as existing laws,” he said.
He maintained that accountability and enforcement remain the key gaps in the system.
“The solution is ensuring people comply with the law. And where they don’t, you sanction them. That is what is lacking,” he added.
Mr. Azeem also warned that perceived silence from the presidency could undermine efforts to enforce compliance.
“If the president keeps quiet, perhaps because the party has endorsed what is happening, then that is where the problem is. We don’t know,” he remarked.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Seidu Mutawakil | Bolgatanga
