The government will reduce the time required to award public contracts and tighten the rules governing sole-source procurement as part of reforms aimed at speeding up government projects and improving accountability in the use of public funds.
The Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, presenting the Mid-Year Review of the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy in Parliament on Thursday said the lead time for national competitive tendering for goods would be reduced from 23 weeks to eight weeks, while international competitive tendering for works would be cut from 27 weeks to 14 weeks.
Dr Forson said competitive tendering would remain the government's preferred method of procurement, with sole-source procurement permitted only under genuine exceptional circumstances, including emergencies, matters of national security or where only one supplier was capable of providing the required goods, works or services.
"Delays arising from poor planning will no longer be treated as an emergency," he told Parliament.
Dr Forson said the government would also tighten the rules governing restricted tendering and sole-source procurement to improve transparency and secure better value for money.
He announced that sanctions would be imposed on officials who approve procurement decisions in breach of the Public Procurement Act.
The Finance Minister said the reforms were intended to reduce delays in the execution of government projects, promote fair competition and reduce opportunities for abuse in the procurement process.
"Competitive tendering must remain the norm. Restricted tendering and single source procurement must be the exception," Dr Forson said.
He said reducing procurement timelines would speed up the award of public contracts while maintaining transparency throughout the process.
Dr Forson explained that the measures formed part of a broader package of expenditure reforms contained in the Mid-Year Budget Review to improve the use of public resources.
He said the government wanted procurement processes to deliver better value for money without weakening competition or accountability.
Dr Forson appealed to Parliament to support the reforms, saying they would improve project delivery, increase public confidence in the procurement system and strengthen the management of public funds.
