The Minority in Parliament has called on the government to publish full details of contracts awarded under its flagship Big Push programme, raising concerns over transparency in the utilisation of an estimated GH₵50 billion in public funds.
At a press conference held in Parliament on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, the Ranking Member on the Roads and Transport Committee, Kennedy Nyarko Osei, questioned the processes underpinning the award of the initial batch of projects.
The Minority is demanding the immediate disclosure of key contract details, including the identities of contractors, the scope of work assigned, and the unit cost per kilometre. It argued that making such information public would enable independent scrutiny and promote transparency in infrastructure delivery.
“Transparency remains a cornerstone of good governance,” Mr. Nyarko Osei said, noting that open processes and accessible information are essential for building public confidence and minimising suspicion.
He further observed that the current administration had strongly advocated transparency while in opposition, thereby creating expectations of higher governance standards. According to him, the apparent lack of openness surrounding the contract awards risks undermining public trust.
The Minority indicated that it would benchmark the cost of the Big Push projects against established industry standards for road construction, including bitumen surface roads, asphaltic overlays, and dual carriageways, once the relevant data is disclosed. This, it said, is necessary to ensure value for money and prevent potential cost inflation.
Mr Osei cautioned that limited transparency in major public expenditures often breeds doubt and speculation, even where no wrongdoing exists, stressing that openness is critical to sustaining confidence in government programmes.
The Big Push programme, a key government initiative, is expected to involve substantial public investment of about GH₵50 billion, as outlined by President John Dramani Mahama in the 2026 State of the Nation Address. Given the scale of the programme, the Minority maintains that Ghanaians have a right to know how the funds are being allocated.
The group also argued that details of the contracts should be made public even after their award, describing the call for disclosure as both reasonable and necessary to ensure accountability.
Beyond the Big Push initiative, the Minority raised concerns about broader challenges in the road and transport sector, including the reported abandonment of over 1,000 inherited road projects, delays in railway development, and increasing arrears within the Road Fund. However, transparency in the Big Push contracts remained the central focus of the briefing.
Suame Interchange Downgrade
The Minority also opposed the government’s decision to downgrade the Suame Interchange project in Kumasi from a four-tier to a three-tier design, despite what it describes as already secured and approved funding for the interchange’s original scope.
Kennedy Nyarko Osei, in his statement, expressed concern that altering the project design raises serious questions about value for money, transparency, and adherence to parliamentary approvals.
According to the Minority, Parliament in 2022 approved a financing package of €156.4 million and $47 million from Deutsche Bank and African Export-Import Bank, respectively, for the construction of the interchange and ancillary works, based on the original four-tier design.
Mr. Osei questioned the rationale behind the proposed downgrade, particularly in light of claims that funding constraints necessitated the revision.
“This raises a fundamental question: if the financing facility was approved by Parliament for a four-tier interchange, why would the current government seek to downgrade the project while citing funding constraints?” he asked.
The Minority described the Suame Interchange as a critical infrastructure project, given its strategic importance to the Ashanti Region’s industrial and commercial activities. The Suame enclave, home to the renowned Suame Magazine, serves as a major hub for vehicle repairs, metal fabrication and spare parts trade.
Mr. Osei warned that reducing the scale of the interchange could undermine its long-term capacity to handle traffic volumes and limit its socio-economic impact.
“The Suame Interchange is not just another project; it is a strategic intervention to ease congestion and support one of the most vibrant industrial zones in the country. Any attempt to reduce its scope must be carefully justified,” he stated.
He further stressed that infrastructure projects financed with public funds must deliver maximum value and align with their originally intended design and capacity.
“We will vigorously advocate for the full implementation of the originally approved four-tier design to safeguard public interest and ensure that taxpayers derive the full benefits of this investment,” Mr. Osei added.
The Minority indicated that it would resist any attempt to alter the project without clear justification and proper parliamentary oversight, insisting that public infrastructure investments must not be subject to arbitrary changes.
Beyond the Suame Interchange, the Minority raised broader concerns about developments in the road and transport sector, pointing to what it described as a pattern of stalled projects, funding gaps, and policy inconsistencies. It cited the reported abandonment of more than 1,000 ongoing road projects nationwide, many of which were in advanced stages of completion.
The group also expressed concern over delays in railway development, noting that several near-completed projects, including the Tema–Mpakadan and Kojokrom–Manso lines, remain non-operational. It warned that failure to complete such projects risks undermining over $1 billion invested in the railway sector in recent years.
Additionally, the Minority highlighted growing financial pressures within the sector, including arrears estimated at about GH¢20 billion and what it described as inadequate releases from the Road Fund to meet existing obligations. It noted that delayed payments have forced many contractors to abandon project sites, further slowing infrastructure delivery.
The press conference also touched on concerns regarding major proposed projects such as the Accra–Kumasi Expressway, with the Minority calling for full disclosure of construction and compensation costs before implementation proceeds.
Despite the concerns raised, the Minority reiterated its support for infrastructure development initiatives that are transparent, well-funded, and efficiently executed, while pledging to continue its oversight role to ensure accountability in the sector.
Abandoned projects
The Minority Caucus also indicated that more than 80 percent of over 1,000 road projects inherited from the erstwhile NPP administration have been abandoned, noting that contractors had vacated sites across the country, with many fully demobilizing equipment despite substantial public funds previously invested in the projects.
“At the point of transition, when the administration of Akufo-Addo handed over governance, there were over 1,000 road projects actively ongoing across the country. These projects, spanning all 16 regions and 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, were duly documented in the official handing over notes,” he told journalists.
“However, fifteen months into the administration of the Mahama government, more than 80 percent of these projects have effectively been abandoned completely. Across the country, contractors have vacated sites, and in many cases, fully demobilized equipment.”
According to the Minority, the abandoned projects cut across key implementing agencies, including the Ghana Highway Authority, the Department of Urban Roads, and the Department of Feeder Roads. Many of the projects, they noted, had reached advanced stages of completion before work stalled.
Mr. Nyarko Osei cited the eight bypasses along the Accra-Kumasi Highway corridor as a clear example of the challenge. Key sections, including the Osino, Anyinam, Enyiresi, and Konongo dual-carriageway bypasses, had reached completion levels ranging from approximately 57 percent to 93 percent as of December 2024.
“Despite this substantial advancement, these road projects have been completely abandoned by the government,” he stated.
