Akufo-Addo paid millions monthly for Ghana.gov platform without a contract – Sam George

Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations Minister, Samuel Nartey George, has revealed that the Ghana.Gov digital services platform operated for several years under the previous administration without a formal contract.

According to him, the development continued with substantial monthly payments to private companies.

The revelation, made during the Government Accountability Series in Accra, has sparked serious concerns over procurement irregularities and the misuse of public funds. Mr. George disclosed that the Akufo-Addo-led administration oversaw the disbursement of tens of millions of cedis monthly to entities managing the portal without any legally binding agreement.

“The Ghana.Gov platform has run for years without a contract. Yet, millions of cedis were paid every month. That is unacceptable and a clear violation of procurement and financial management rules,” the Minister said.

He added that since the assumption of office by the Mahama administration, all payments related to the platform have been suspended pending a full review. According to him, not a single pesewa has been paid since January 2025, as the current government refuses to finance a project that lacks a contractual framework.

“We cannot continue paying for a system that has no legal backing. This government is committed to accountability and value for money,” Mr. George emphasized.

The Minister further disclosed that the Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, is currently redesigning the Ghana.Gov platform. The new version is scheduled to be launched in the final quarter of 2025. It is expected to serve as a more secure, efficient, and transparent portal for accessing government services and making official payments.

“We are now before the Public Procurement Authority seeking approval to proceed with a public tender. This is how digital governance should be done — with proper structures and legal oversight,” he said.

Launched as a flagship initiative to centralize access to government services online, the Ghana.Gov platform was intended to streamline revenue collection and reduce human contact in service delivery. However, Mr. George said the platform’s integrity has been compromised by the absence of due process in its initial rollout.

The government says it is determined to relaunch the platform under a new legal and administrative framework that ensures transparency, public trust, and compliance with procurement laws.