Our request for Big Push contracts records was denied until we appealed - Sulemana Braimah
Sulemana Braimah said their attempts to access information on the government's Big Push contracts were initially rejected, forcing the organisation to appeal before the records could be released, on Saturday, March 28, on the JoyNews Newsfile programme. He explained that The Fourth Estate, a media outlet under the MFWA, had relied on the Right to Information (RTI) Act to request details of the contracts, but their initial application was denied. He said, "We followed all legal procedures under the RTI, yet the information was withheld. We had to appeal before the agencies complied."
The team also wrote directly to other agencies, including the Ghana Highways Authority, to secure documents related to the projects. Sulemana Braimah noted, "Persistence is critical. Journalists must use every available avenue to ensure transparency and accountability in public procurement." The call for transparency follows reporting by The Fourth Estate highlighting concerns over procurement in the Big Push programme, particularly the extensive use of sole sourcing and potential cost inflation.
The report noted that the Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, oversaw 81 sole-sourced contracts valued at over GH¢73 billion in seven months, though the Minister has since stated that only 44% of major contracts were awarded through sole sourcing.
Quick Summary
Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of MFWA, discussed challenges accessing information on government's Big Push contracts. The struggle to obtain these public records raises questions about transparency in major infrastructure projects - and what it might mean.
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