The Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem has emphasized the urgency of establishing the proposed Value for Money Office (VfMO), arguing it is essential for ending widespread procurement abuses that cost the nation significant sums.
The proposed VfMO, first announced in the budget on Friday, November 4, 2025, is intended to move Ghana away from merely box-ticking compliance toward outcome accountability. This shift is expected to cut waste, restore public trust, and free up critical fiscal space for essential services like roads, schools, hospitals, and jobs.
Speaking in an interview, Mr. Ampem detailed why a new, specialized agency is needed.
“Even with the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) now… The PPA ensures proper processes, but they do not have the capacity to determine value for money.”
He explained that the new office will be staffed with technical experts to properly evaluate government projects, unlike existing regulatory bodies.
“This Value for Money Office that we intend to establish must have engineers and quantity surveyors to value and set standards,” he stated.
The Deputy Minister stressed that the move is highly urgent, adding “Procurement abuses and inflation of our prices are making us lose huge sums of money. So it is very, very important.”
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Story by Richlove Doku Essilfie| univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Deborah Owusu
