President John Dramani Mahama on Friday revealed during his 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) that his administration will bring forward legislation to tighten Ghana’s procurement processes significantly.
In line with Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution, which requires the President to deliver an annual address on the state of the nation at the opening of Parliament’s session, Mahama used the platform to outline governance reforms under the “Reset Agenda.”
“We’re bringing legislation to this House to tighten procurement processes by banning sole sourced contracts except in exceptional circumstances,” President Mahama stated.
The president emphasized the need to minimize non-competitive bidding that has long been criticized for fostering inefficiency, corruption risks, and poor value for money.
The proposal builds on ongoing concerns about sole-sourcing under previous administrations, where such contracts reportedly accounted for a substantial portion of public expenditure despite existing provisions in the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663, as amended), which already limits sole-sourcing to specific justified cases like emergencies or single-supplier scenarios.
The president’s announcement follows earlier commitments to amend procurement laws, establish mechanisms like the Value for Money Office for pre-contract scrutiny, and promote competitive bidding, particularly in high-risk sectors such as roads and infrastructure, to restore fiscal discipline and public trust.
