Imagine waking up one morning in a village where the people have waited years for a clean water project. The signboard says, “Funded by the Government of Ghana, expected completion: September 2022.” It is now July 2025. Still no water, no workers on site —just rusting metal and faded paint.

This is not just a story; it is the reality in too many communities across various regions of Ghana. Roads that never end or end in bushes, school buildings half-completed, and clinics and other health facilities without staff or supplies. Yet budgets were approved, contracts were awarded, and funds were released. The question now is,  where did all the money go?

Understanding Public Contracts: The Invisible Blueprint

A public contract is a legal agreement between the government and private contractors to deliver public goods and services, such as schools, roads, hospitals, and water systems, you name it. These contracts are supposed to translate national budgets into real impact.

They are signed, paid for (often with your tax money), and expected to deliver concrete results. But here is the kicker: the process is often unclear, and many Ghanaians have no access to the details, like who won the contract, how much it was worth, when it was due, and whether it was even finished.

Citizens as Contract Monitors: Your Right, Your Role

Under Ghana’s Public Procurement Act (Act 663 as amended) and global initiatives like the Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS), there is growing momentum to make contract data publicly accessible.

This issue matters because public contracts affect your life. Whether you get quality healthcare, drive on a tarred road, or send your child to an effectively functioning school depends on these contracts.

Owing to this, BudgIT Ghana believes that every citizen should feel empowered to ask questions like:

      Firstly, where can I find details of awarded contracts in my district?

      Secondly, was the contractor qualified or connected?

     Thirdly, has the project been completed according to the timeline and budget?

    Finally, what penalties exist for failure to deliver?

Follow the Money, Follow the Project

You do not need to be a policy expert to track contracts. With digital platforms and civic tools, transparency is no longer a privilege but rather, it is a right. Here is how you can get started:

• Explore Contract Platforms

   Visit the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) and Ministry of Finance websites for procurement bulletins.

  Use BudgIT Ghana’s Tracka (yourtracka.org.gh) to follow the progress of capital projects in your area.

• Use the Right to Information (RTI) Act

The RTI Act, 2019 (Act 989), allows you to request specific contract documents from public institutions. If you suspect foul play or see an abandoned project, you can demand the facts legally.

• Form Community Monitoring Groups

In some cases, visibility is not enough, as it takes collective action to bring about accountability. It is thus necessary for people to organise town hall meetings and collaborate with local media to bring issues to light and demand progress updates.

• Engage Your Assembly Members

These are your first line of democratic representation. Ask questions, share concerns, and document your engagements. When leaders know people are watching, performance often follows.

BudgIT Ghana’s Commitment: Bridging the Trust Gap

At BudgIT Ghana, we go beyond mere calculations. We serve as catalysts for public accountability. Our goal is to make government budgets, contracts, and initiatives more understandable through narrative, data visualisation, and active community involvement.

We believe in a Ghana where:

  Citizens track every cedi spent.

 Contractors know they are being watched.

 Leaders understand that power comes with responsibility.

Our civic tech tools, policy research, and grassroots campaigns are designed to put you at the centre of the accountability conversation.

Development is not just about budgets; it is about delivery. And delivery is incomplete without citizen oversight. You have the right to know, the power to ask, and the tools to act. So the next time you pass a project signboard, do not just look and pass. Do well to ask questions:

Is it finished?

Who is responsible?

Can I verify the details?

Because ultimately, public contracts are not just between the government and contractors. They are between the leaders and you.

Accountability starts with awareness. Action begins with you.