Gov’t lays Value for Money Office Bill to tackle waste, inflated contracts

Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson has laid the Value for Money Office Bill, 2026 before Parliament, describing it as a decisive step to curb waste and strengthen accountability in public spending.

Presenting the Bill on Tuesday on behalf of the government, Dr Forson said the proposed legislation is aimed at confronting persistent inefficiencies that have long plagued the management of public resources.

According to him, the Bill seeks to tackle challenges such as inflated contracts, abandoned projects, cost overruns and other forms of waste that undermine national development efforts.

At the heart of the proposed law is the establishment of an independent Value for Money Office. The office will be mandated to rigorously assess major public expenditures, certify contracts before they receive approval, monitor compliance with financial and procurement standards, and enforce sanctions where necessary.

Dr Forson emphasised that the objective of the Bill is “simple and firm: protect public funds, eliminate waste and ensure that every cedi delivers measurable value to the Ghanaian people.”

He stressed that public resources must be utilised prudently, insisting that “public funds must deliver public value.”