GACC Flags Risks to Big Push Agenda

The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) has uncovered major governance and transparency lapses in the implementation of oil-funded projects, cautioning that failure to address these weaknesses could derail the current government’s flagship infrastructure agenda.

The findings were presented at a national stakeholder meeting under the project, “From Disclosure to Impact: Mobilizing Local Civil Society to Verify Published Extractive Data and Advocate for Accountable and Equitable Spending.” According to GACC Programmes Officer, Samuel Harrison-Cudjoe, a three-year verification exercise revealed systemic flaws in project planning, execution, and oversight.
He explained that the report assessed projects implemented under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration from 2022, but is intended to guide the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) government as it rolls out its “Big Push” infrastructure programme.
A key concern highlighted in the report is the limited involvement of citizens in project planning. Mr. Harrison-Cudjoe noted that many oil-funded projects are conceptualised in Accra and imposed on districts without adequate consultation with local communities or alignment with district development plans.
“This disconnect undermines accountability and often results in projects that do not reflect the actual needs of the people,” he stated.
The Coalition also raised concerns about a lack of transparency in the contracting process. It revealed that district assemblies frequently do not have access to project contracts, making it difficult to supervise contractors or enforce compliance.
“In most cases, contracts are awarded in Accra, and contractors move straight to site without the involvement of local authorities. Assemblies cannot hold them accountable because they don’t even have the contracts,” he explained.
Further findings point to weak oversight systems and significant information gaps between government officials and local communities. According to the report, this imbalance creates fertile ground for corruption, including the emergence of ghost and untraceable projects.
“We identified projects that exist on paper with allocated funds, but on the ground, they simply do not exist,” Mr. Harrison-Cudjoe disclosed.
He warned that unless these structural challenges are urgently addressed, the NDC government’s Big Push agenda risks repeating the failures of past initiatives.
To address the issues, GACC is advocating for full disclosure of project details, including locations, timelines, and contract documents, to enable early monitoring and strengthen citizen participation.
“Our aim is to ensure that the Big Push does not repeat the mistakes of the past. These findings should serve as a guide to build a more transparent, accountable, and inclusive system,” he stressed.
Mr. Harrison-Cudjoe concluded by emphasising the need for prudent management of Ghana’s oil revenues, insisting that citizens must be able to see tangible development outcomes from public spending.
“It is our oil money, and we must be able to point to real projects that reflect its use,” he said.