In Akufo-Addo's 2016 presidential campaign, he assured Ghanaians that if elected, government projects and contracts would no longer be exclusively awarded through sole sourcing. He emphatically declared an end to the era of sole sourcing. This statement resurfaced amidst ongoing discussions about the government predominantly opting for sole sourcing in contract awards.

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Notably, the Ghana Revenue Authority faced criticism on Twitter for awarding contracts through sole sourcing for items like office curtains, furniture, and notepad diaries. See details of some of the contracts below: Supply of Office Furniture Contract date – December 1, 2022Contract Award Price - GH¢1,275,253.

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20Contract Type – Single SourcedContract Awarded to – Jaide Solutions Supply of Office Furniture Contract date – December 1, 2022Contract Award Price - $225,056.00Contract Type – Single SourcedContract Awarded to – Precision Hub Service International Supply and Installation of Office Curtains at Head Office AnnexContract date – December 30, 2022Contract Award Price - GH¢198,524.

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40Contract Type – Single SourcedContract Awarded to – Emperor Hive Limited Procurement of Furniture and Fittings Contract date – September 27, 2022Contract Award Price - GH¢1,060,476.56Contract Type – Single SourcedContract Awarded to – Favrace Company Limited Printing and Supply of 2023 Notepad Diaries Contract date – October 14, 2022Contract Award Price - GH¢1,275,253.

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20Contract Type – Single SourcedContract Awarded to – JIT Magazine and Diaries Services Ltd Another Procurement for Office Furniture Contract date – June 30, 2022Contract Award Price - GH¢1,767,846.60Contract Type – Single SourcedContract Awarded to – Sams Firma Ltd The primary issues made about contract awarding have been over the use of sole sourcing because the items do not meet the criteria for sole sourcing.

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The Public Procurement Authority acknowledges the following arguments for sole sourcing, according to the PPA: (a) Where goods, works or services are only available from a particular supplier or contractor, or if a particular supplier or contractor has exclusive rights in respect of the goods, works, or services, and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists; (b) Where there is an urgent need for the goods, works, or services and engaging in

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tender proceedings or any other method of procurement is impractical due to unforeseeable circumstances giving rise to the urgency which is not the result of dilatory conduct on the part of the procurement entity; (c) Where owing to a catastrophic event, there is an urgent need for the goods, works, or technical services, making it impractical to use other methods of procurement because of the time involved in using those methods.

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