Accra: The Member of Parliament (MP) for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah, has challenged Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson over the government's proposed procurement reforms, questioning the consistency between measures outlined in the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review and selected projects allegedly being undertaken through single-source and restricted tendering procedures.
According to Ghana Web, Boamah raised these concerns during a debate on the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review presented by the Finance Minister to Parliament. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmaker referred Parliament to paragraphs 465 and 466 of the review, which outline proposed measures aimed at improving procurement efficiency. The government plans to shorten procurement lead times, limit the use of single-source procurement, and tighten restricted tendering.
Boamah, however, questioned the consistency of those proposals with procurement arrangements he attributed to projects in the constituency of the Finance Minister. He cited the Mankessim-Ajumako-Swedru Road project, which he said stretches about 111 kilometres and is expected to cost approximately US$250 million, alleging that a single-source procurement process was used. He also mentioned the proposed construction of a military barracks in Ajumako and a specialist hospital project, which he claimed were being undertaken through arrangements that appeared inconsistent with the government's stated procurement reform agenda.
The NPP legislator also questioned the government's decision to site major projects in Ajumako, arguing that residents needed employment opportunities and other forms of economic support. He acknowledged the potential importance of the specialist hospital project but argued that other pressing concerns, including outstanding payments to cocoa farmers, should also be addressed. Boamah also turned his attention to Ghana's tree crops sector and the government's plans to revive the oil palm industry.
The Finance Minister, he said, had indicated in the 2026 Budget that the government intended to commit more than US$500 million towards reviving the oil palm sector. Boamah criticised the government over its handling of job creation, public sector salaries, and outstanding payments to cocoa farmers. He also questioned the government's failure to report progress on its campaign promise to create 800,000 jobs, stressing that the three-shift pledge had become a mirage for young Ghanaians.
According to Boamah, the specialist hospital project is estimated to cost GHS850 million and is allegedly being pursued under a restricted tendering arrangement.