News
Sammy Gyamfi defends sole sourcing of road projects, cites urgency
The National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GoldBod Ghana, Sammy Gyamfi, has defended the use of sole sourcing in the award of major road projects, describing it as lawful and necessary under urgent circumstances.
His comments follow concerns raised in a publication by the The Fourth Estate over the procurement processes used for the government’s Big Push road projects.
Mr Gyamfi in a post on Facebook explained that the poor state of roads in the country poses a serious national security risk, noting that bad roads have contributed to fatal accidents and criminal activities such as armed robbery.
He indicated that preliminary processes for the projects, including surveying, designing and costing, took about seven months to complete.
According to him, using the national competitive tendering process would have caused further delays, potentially pushing completion dates beyond 2028.
He added that competitive tendering processes can take several months, citing the ongoing road toll project procurement, which he noted has lasted nearly a year due to its complexity.
Mr Gyamfi stressed that Ghana’s procurement law allows for sole sourcing under specific conditions such as urgency, subject to approval by the Public Procurement Authority.
He explained that the law does not prohibit sole sourcing but rather frowns on its unjustified use.
He argued that there is no evidence to support claims that the sole sourcing of the Big Push road projects was unlawful or led to inflated costs.
According to him, all the projects awarded through sole sourcing received prior approval from the Public Procurement Authority and were justified on grounds of urgency.
He further stated that value for money audits were conducted and that contracts were awarded to multiple competent contractors with the capacity to complete the projects on time.
Mr Gyamfi noted that payments for the projects are based on actual work done and certified by independent consultants.
He clarified that 23 out of the 84 projects under the Big Push initiative were inherited from the previous New Patriotic Party administration and were originally awarded through sole sourcing.
According to him, the current government only continued those projects by maintaining the contractors and providing funding, rather than re awarding them.
Mr Gyamfi accused the Fourth Estate of including those inherited projects in its list of sole sourced contracts attributed to the current administration, describing the approach as misleading.
He maintained that the party has always opposed the abuse of sole sourcing and not the practice itself, insisting that the current use of the method is justified.
Mr Gyamfi questioned the criticism, arguing that comparing the present situation to past concerns about sole sourcing is misplaced.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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