The Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) has formally called on the Auditor-General to undertake an independent and comprehensive technical audit of road projects under the Government’s flagship “Big Push” infrastructure programme.

They said the demand followed rising public concern over procurement practices and project delivery.

A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Wednesday said "This intervention follows recent investigative reports by “The Fourth Estate”, which revealed the extensive use of Single Source Procurement and Restricted Tendering in the award of contracts under the Ministry of Roads and Highways.

“These revelations have ignited national debate and raised serious concerns about value for money, transparency, and adherence to established procurement laws and engineering standards.”

It said from a professional engineering standpoint, GhIE considered the scale of investment estimated at GH¢110 billion, with approximately GH¢85 billion already committed to ongoing road projects as too significant to proceed without rigorous and independent scrutiny.

The Institution maintained that such unprecedented public expenditure must be subjected to a credible audit process to safeguard the national interest, ensure that infrastructure delivery met expected standards, and guaranteed that every cedi invested delivered measurable value, efficiency, and tangible benefits to the Ghanaian people.

“While acknowledging the directive by His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama for the Minister for Roads and Highways to respond to the allegations, GhIE emphasizes that the gravity of the issues raised requires an independent audit by the Auditor-General to provide objective findings and restore public confidence.

“This request is grounded in Section 16 of the Audit Service Act, 2000 (Act 584), which empowers the Auditor-General to undertake special audits in the public interest and report to Parliament.

“GhIE considers this mandate critical at this juncture to reinforce accountability and institutional credibility.”

It said the institution stressed that the audit must extend beyond procurement to cover the full lifecycle of the projects, including, feasibility, engineering design, procurement processes, environmental and social compliance, and implementation, as weaknesses at any stage could significantly affect cost, quality, and long-term sustainability.

GhIE highlighted that Ghana’s legal framework clearly established competitive tendering as the default procurement method under the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), with alternative methods permitted only under exceptional circumstances, while the Public Investment Management Regulations, 2020 (LI 2411) require proper feasibility assessments and inclusion of projects in an approved Public Investment Plan prior to execution.

“The Institution emphasizes that adherence to these provisions is essential to ensuring transparency, fairness, and the efficient use of public resources, noting that any deviation risks undermining public trust, weakening accountability, and ultimately compromising value for money in national infrastructure investments.”

According to the statement GhIE clarified that its call was not intended to apportion blame, but to establish clear standards for public project execution, identify systemic gaps, and strengthen infrastructure delivery in Ghana.

“The Institution stands ready to support the Auditor-General with technical expertise to ensure a credible and comprehensive audit process, noting that this call has already attracted significant public interest following its announcement at a recent national induction ceremony for engineers.

“At a time of significant national investment, GhIE urges swift and decisive action to ensure transparency, accountability, and value for money in the delivery of these critical projects.”