Accra, March 25, GNA- Dr Razak Kojo Opoku, former Public Relations Manager of the National Lottery Authority has stated that there is nothing wrong if only 44 percent of contracts are awarded on sole-sourcing.
âIf it is true that only 44% of the Big Push road projects were awarded under sole-sourcing to local contractors as a means of empowering indigenous entrepreneurs, then what is scandalous about that?
âMust all contracts undergo competitive tendering before you can assume or expect value for money, transparency, and accountabilityâ?
In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Wednesday, Dr Opoku said if single-source procurement amounted to corruption, âthen let us further amend the Procurement Act 2003(Act 663) & Act 914(2016) to completely remove Single-source procurement(Sole-sourcing), and Restricted Tendering and also make it a highly criminal offence for any Ministry, Agency & Departments of government, State Institutions, MMDAs etcâ.
He said single-source procurement(sole-sourcing) and Restricted Tendering were globally accepted procurement methods/procedures âbut an African politician due to mischief and propaganda while in opposition and sometimes in collaboration with some CSOs/Think Tanks will be demonizing Sole-sourcing(single-source procurement) and Restricted Tendering by tagging it a scandal under the ruling government of the dayâ.
Dr Opoku said it was worth noting that some NDC people who were vehemently against Sole-sourcing while in opposition were now defending same in government, and the NPP people who were aggressively defending Sole-sourcing under Akufo-Addoâs government were now attacking Sole-sourcing under Mahamaâs government.
âIt seems there is no proper principles and ethics in our body politics, with many politicians crying foul in opposition as if we dearly care about the Country.
âSome of the CSOs and Think Tanks have seen this gap and brilliantly hide behind the so called âValue for money, Accountability and Transparencyâ anthem sponsored by some foreign donor partners to frustrate the initiatives and programmes of African governments aimed at empowering local entrepreneurs through Sole-source and Restricted tendering contracts.
âThere would NOT have been a single sound from Fourth Estate if the 44% of the Big Push Projects were given to Foreign Companies or individualsâ.
He said Ghanaian politicians through bi-partisan approach must know what to criticize and what not to criticize politically or else some CSOs/Think Tanks would thrive on the ignorance and political vulnerability of politicians to indirectly control the state of affairs in this Country while hiding behind the strategy of âValue for Money, Accountability, and Transparencyâ.
He said from America to Europe, all governments award some of the countryâs contracts to local entrepreneurs through Sole-sourcing, Restricted Tendering, and Exclusivity License.
âEven IMF and World Bank engage the services of some companies through Sole-sourcing and Restricted Tendering. So whatâs with the unnecessary debate and discussions about sole-sourcing and restricted tendering of road contracts?
âAs citizens, what we must concern ourselves with when it comes to Sole-sourcing or Restricted tendering or Exclusivity License are:The merit regarding the cost of the project, Value for Money Audit regarding the project, Competence, Capacity, and the ability to deliver quality projectâ.
He added that durability, and sustainability of the project, completion and delivery timeliness for the project, fair pricing, and emergency demands(urgent needs), unique expertise required for the project especially the Technology driving the business or the project were essential.
He urged Ghanaians to also conern themselves with growth of the local economy, Jobs for the youth,indigenous wealth creation in the Country among others.
The statement said Sole-source procurement, restricted tendering and exclusivity license were essential to accelerate national development especially in the areas of: roads and infrastructure, technology-based business(including digitalization), military and National Security.
âIn USA, China, Russia, and other advanced Countries, about a certain percentage of government contracts are awarded through Sole-sourcing or Restricted Tendering or Exclusive Licence especially for Military/National Security, Technology-based businesses, and urgent national infrastructure projects.
âThe Ministry of Roads has done nothing wrong if indeed 44% of the Big Push projects were awarded under Sole-source aimed at empowering indigenous road contractors.
âWe just have to make sure that the roads are properly done and are worthy of evaluation and paymentsâ.
He urged Ghanaians to also ascertain if there was an issue of OVERPRICING of the road contracts.
âWere the sole-sourced contracts all given to one company or individual leading to gross abuse of the procurement method?
âWere the sole-sourced contracts awarded to companies or individuals because they are related to the Minister and his deputies i.e family, friends, affiliation or association?
âWere the sole-sourced contracts given to inexperienced individuals or companies or foot soldiers of the NDC?
âWere the sole-sourced contracts awarded in breach of the Public Procurement Act 663 and Act 914â?
He also questioned if the sole-sourced contracts were awarded without proper approval, awarded to foreigners or foreign-owned companies?
He asked if under the future government of NPP, Ghanaians will witness ZERO TOLERANCE for Sole-source contracts(Single-source procurement), Restricted Tendering, and Exclusivity License?
âIs there any evidence of misapplication of road funds under the sole-source contracts, Is there any evidence of misappropriation of road funds under the sole-source contracts, is there any evidence of the Road Minister taking 1-10% kick-back from the awarded sole-source contractsâ, he questioned?
âOne thing I have learnt in life and politics is that, if people want to believe something about you, it doesnât matter what facts you present to debunk the allegations or the lack of fact your opposition or accuser presents.
âWe have allowed truth and lies to blend in our body politics thereby affecting growth of the economy and overall national development.
âAny individual, CSO or Think Tank can come out with unmerited allegations, and suddenly politicians either in government or in opposition will be wasting precious time and energy discussing or debating those unmerited allegations, creating scandals out of thin air.
He said as a national development policy, and through a bi-partisan consensus, âwe need to empower the Ghanaian business community and contractors by awarding 10-50% of government projects under sole-sourcing, restricted tendering or exclusivity license so that Ghana can benefit from jobs & wealth creation, an excellent currency management and exchange rate regulation, as well as grow the economy through the use of indigenous entrepreneursâ.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba