Member of Parliament(MP) for Mpraeso, Davis Ansah Opoku, has raised serious concerns about the government and its One Million Coders Programme.
He says authorities have significantly overpriced laptops intended for the initiative.
The MP says the government plans to purchase each laptop for ₵14,000.00, arguing that the price far exceeds the realistic market value of similar computers.
He believes the government must justify the pricing to the public insisting that transparency must guide every major public procurement decision.
Mr Ansah Opoku also criticised the funding arrangement used to support the purchase indicating that cabinet directed the National Communications Authority to finance the laptops.
According to him, that decision violates Ghana’s Public Financial Management Act.
He argued that the law clearly restricts such funding arrangements between state institutions.
The MP said the government cannot compel one state institution to finance another institution’s programme, stressing that authorities must first secure proper budgetary approval from Parliament.
He believes the government bypassed normal budget procedures in this case, warning that such actions weaken accountability within public financial management systems.
He mentioned the move could create opportunities for corruption within government procurement processes urging authorities to avoid practices that undermine financial discipline in public institutions.
The MP explained that Parliament must approve major spending before government agencies proceed with purchases.
He said the planned laptop purchase has not received the required approval from Parliament.
Davis Ansah Opoku also questioned whether the Ministry followed the proper procurement procedures in acquiring the laptops.
He argued that the government must clearly justify the ₵14,000 price for each laptop to prove that the state is getting value for money.
According to him, the amount is excessively high compared with the typical cost of laptops on the market. He noted that computers suitable for training purposes should cost much less.
The MP suggested that a reasonable price should be below ₵10,000 per laptop, adding that the higher cost raises concerns about possible irregularities in the procurement process.
Reports indicate that the government plans to purchase more than 2,000 laptops for the programme at ₵14,000 each.
He said this pricing has significantly increased the overall cost of the project and stressed that taxpayers deserve full transparency and accountability over how public funds are spent.
He added that the government must not compromise financial accountability in the pursuit of digital development.
