Mahama is really interested in fighting corruption, making procurement better — Apanga

Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Gaming Commission, Lamtiig A. Apanga, has praised President John Dramani Mahama for demonstrating a strong commitment to fighting corruption and improving procurement processes in Ghana.

His comments come in the wake of a government-commissioned report released on Monday, June 15, on an investigative story into the use of sole-sourced contracts under the ongoing Big Push infrastructure programme.

The committee, while clearing the Ministry of Roads and Highways of wrongdoing, recommended stricter conditions for sole sourcing, insisting it should only be used in exceptional cases and accompanied by full public disclosure for transparency.

Speaking on Accra-based Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily show on Tuesday, June 16, Mr. Apanga said the proposed reforms, if implemented, would strengthen procurement governance and reduce opportunities for abuse.

He explained that while discretion in procurement decisions may still exist, safeguards being proposed would help limit misuse of that discretion.

“There would be the possibility of abuse [single-sourced procurement], but the good part is that because there's going to be further legislation that would help strengthen the definition of genuineness of urgency… it will limit the issue of abuse and perhaps indiscretion in the selection process,” he said.

Mr. Apanga further stressed that making sole-sourced contracts public would significantly improve accountability and transparency in the system.

“If the recommendations include publication of sole source awarded contracts, then it's a welcoming reform, I think it enhances transparency,” he noted.

He noted that transparency remains a critical tool in preventing corruption and ensuring public trust in procurement processes, especially in large-scale government projects.

According to him, the ongoing reforms indicate that government is taking concrete steps to address gaps in the procurement system and strengthen oversight.