Aspirant MP Defends Sole-Sourcing, Challenges Claims of Poor Value for Money

Former aspiring Member of Parliament, Alexander AKourkoh, has defended the use of sole-sourcing in public procurement, arguing that it does not necessarily undermine value for money.

Speaking during engagement on Kessben Maakye show, Mr. Akourkoh, who is vying to represent the Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro Constituency, dismissed claims that contracts awarded under the Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Kwame Agbodza, were predominantly sole-sourced.

According to him, such assertions misrepresent the broader procurement record.

“I always go for value for money,” he stated, emphasizing that competitive bidding remained a key feature of contract awards during the period in question.

Citing figures to support his position, he explained that out of 507 contracts reviewed, only about 44 percent were sole-sourced, largely under emergency circumstances.

The remaining contracts, he noted, were awarded through competitive tendering processes.

“The rest were given under competitive bidding, which shows that due process was followed in most cases,” he added, arguing that the government’s procurement performance had been “extremely well managed.”

Mr. AKourkoh further challenged critics, particularly members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), to provide evidence that sole-sourced projects failed to deliver value for money.

“I challenge the NPP to prove that sole-sourced projects were not properly executed or did not offer value,” he said.

He added that, if anybody has information suggesting otherwise, they should bring it forward, and we will debate it.

The issue of sole-sourcing has long been a contentious topic in Ghana’s public procurement discourse, often raising concerns about transparency, accountability, and cost-effectiveness. Mr. Akourkoh’s remarks are likely to reignite debate as political actors continue to scrutinize past and present government contracts.

As the election season approaches, procurement practices are expected to remain a key campaign issue, with stakeholders calling for greater openness and adherence to competitive processes.