Patrick Boamah accuses Finance Minister of contradicting procurement reforms with constituency projects

Patrick Yaw Boamah, the Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, accused Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson of violating public procurement reforms proposed in the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review. Contributing to the parliamentary debate last Thursday, Mr Boamah questioned the government's commitment to procurement transparency, stating, "If the minister comes to tell us that he's tightening procurement rules and regime, then I don't believe in what he's talking about."

Mr Boamah alleged that several major projects in the Finance Minister's constituency were awarded through methods the government now seeks to discourage. He cited the 111-kilometre Mankessim-Ajumako-Swedru Road project, valued at about US$250 million, as being awarded through single-source procurement. A GH¢200 million military barracks project in Ajumako was also claimed to be awarded through single-source procurement, while a specialist hospital project estimated at GH¢850 million was procured through restricted tendering. Mr Boamah also raised concerns over a possible conflict of interest, alleging that the Finance Minister's constituency chairman serves as Chairman of the Central Tender Review Committee, and another person from the constituency is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA).