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Sammy Gyamfi defends sole sourcing of road projects, cites urgency
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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
The 29th Annual Dagaaba-Frafra Friendly Games have once again demonstrated that sports can be a powerful vehicle for cultural preservation, business networking, friendship and peaceful coexistence.
Held at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra last Saturday, the games brought together members of the two ethnic groups from across Ghana and abroad for a colourful celebration under the theme, “Unity in Diversity: The Dagaaba-Frafra Model for Peaceful Co-existence.”
The event, which has evolved from a friendly football match into a major annual gathering, featured football, volleyball, sack races, lime and spoon, tug-of-peace and a penalty shootout for senior citizens.
At the end of the competitions, the Frafra won four events, while the Dagaaba secured victories in five, with the men’s soccer match ending in a draw.
The Frafra triumphed in the men’s lime and spoon, men’s sack race, women’s sack race and women’s soccer, while the Dagaaba won the women’s lime and spoon, men’s volleyball, women’s volleyball, women’s tug-of-peace and the senior citizens’ penalty shootout.
However, the games extended far beyond the sporting arena. The stadium grounds and surrounding spaces became a vibrant marketplace, with patrons enjoying and purchasing a variety of traditional foods, drinks and cultural products.
Local delicacies, including TZ, tubaani, bambara beans, pork, guinea fowl, local fowls, dog meat and kosie, were sold alongside traditional alcoholic beverages. Traditional dresses and other culturally inspired items also attracted buyers, turning the gathering into an important platform for small businesses and vendors to make sales while promoting northern Ghanaian culture.
The cultural exchange continued long after the final sporting contests, as patrons remained at the venue to eat, drink, socialise, dance and party well into the night.
In her remarks, the Guest of Honour, Dr Matilda Aberese-Ako, said the gathering represented much more than competition, describing the Dagaaba-Frafra relationship as a historic bond that had evolved into a modern sporting tradition and an instrument for peace.
MTN Ghana has been the headline sponsor for the games for the past 10 years.
By Gordon Wellu
By Gordon Wellu
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MTN Ghana has undertaken a tree-planting exercise at the Chipa Forest Reserve as part of its commitment to protecting the planet and support the restoration of degraded sections of the forest.
The activity forms part of the company’s 2026 Sustainability Month celebration held under the theme “Small Actions: Big Impact,” and its 30th anniversary celebration.
It was held in partnership with the Forestry Commission (FC) and the Rainforest Alliance with MTN Ghana supporting the restoration of approximately two hectares of degraded forest through the planting of 1,666 trees.
Due to the current dry weather conditions, 833 trees were planted during the exercise, with the remaining 833 to be planted when the rain commences.
The exercise brought together MTN employee volunteers, officials from the Forestry Commission and representatives of the Rainforest Alliance, demonstrating the importance of collaboration in driving environmental sustainability.
Speaking at the event, the Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, emphasized the critical role trees play in sustaining life and protecting the environment.
“Trees are essential to human survival and healthy ecosystems. They absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, regulate temperatures, protect soil, support biodiversity and provide habitats for many species. They also conserve water, reduce erosion and help communities adapt to the effects of climate change,” she said.
The District Manager of the Tema-Ada Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission, Linda Ansah, welcomed MTN Ghana’s support, describing it as a valuable contribution to efforts aimed at restoring degraded sections of the reserve.
The Country Director of the Rainforest Alliance, Nicholas Jengri, also welcomed the partnership and emphasised the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges.
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