The Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah, has accused Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson of violating the same public procurement reforms proposed in the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review.
Contributing to the parliamentary debate on the Mid-Year Budget Review presented last Thursday, Mr Boamah questioned the government’s commitment to procurement transparency, arguing that the Finance Minister’s actions contradict the reforms outlined in the budget.
He noted that the government has proposed measures to tighten procurement processes by reducing procurement timelines, limiting the use of single-source procurement and strengthening restrictions on restricted tendering.
However, Mr Boamah alleged that several major projects in the Finance Minister’s constituency were awarded through procurement methods the government now seeks to discourage.
He cited the 111-kilometre Mankessim–Ajumako–Swedru Road project, valued at about US$250 million, alleging that it was awarded through single-source procurement.
The Okaikwei Central MP further claimed that a GH¢200 million military barracks project in Ajumako was also awarded through single-source procurement, while a specialist hospital project estimated at GH¢850 million was procured through restricted tendering.
“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 said.
He 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, while another person from the constituency is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), which falls under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance.
According to Mr Boamah, these developments undermine the government’s stated commitment to transparency and accountability in public procurement.
The MP also criticised the Finance Minister for prioritising new infrastructure projects while cocoa farmers are yet to receive outstanding payments owed to them.
He argued that although the government continues to announce major development projects, many cocoa farmers remain unpaid and should be given priority.
Mr Boamah further referred to the Tree Crops Development Authority Act, noting that the legislation was intended to support the development of crops such as oil palm.
He recalled that in the 2026 Budget Statement, the Finance Minister announced plans to invest more than US$500 million to revive Ghana’s oil palm sector through the Ghana Tree Crops Development Authority.
The Okaikwei Central legislator maintained that while the country needs infrastructure and job creation, government must also honour its financial obligations to cocoa farmers, whom he said continue to wait for payments due them.
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