The creation of a Value for Money Office to scrutinize government spending has been described as a positive step in principle, but one that raises critical concerns about effectiveness, independence and possible duplication of roles.
Democracy and Development Fellow at CDD-Ghana, Dr. John Osae-Kwapong, says while the initiative aims to tackle long-standing issues in public financial management, its success will depend largely on how it is implemented.
“In principle, the idea of a Value for Money Office is not a bad one,” he said in an interview. “It is meant to ensure that for every cedi the government spends, the taxpayer is getting value.”
Over the years, Ghana has grappled with concerns about inflated contracts, procurement irregularities and financial leakages, particularly within the contracting process.
According to Dr. Osae-Kwapong, the proposed office is intended to address exactly these challenges.
However, he cautions that the country’s response to governance issues often leans toward creating new institutions rather than strengthening existing ones.
“We already have quite a number of institutions and rules designed to address these problems, yet they persist,” he noted.
“So the question is whether we need more institutions or better enforcement of the ones we have?” He asked.
A major concern he raised is the independence of the proposed office.
He stressed that for it to function effectively, safeguards must be put in place, including clear appointment processes, security of tenure for its leadership and well-defined powers.
“If the office evaluates a contract and determines that it does not offer value for money, that decision must be binding,” he explained.
“If it can be overridden, then its independence is compromised.”
Dr. Osae-Kwapong warned that if the office’s role is merely advisory, it may have little impact on curbing wasteful spending.
He also pointed to the risk of duplication, questioning whether institutions such as the Public Procurement Authority or even the Auditor-General’s office could perform similar functions.
“Sometimes, the solution is not to create new institutions, but to better utilize existing ones,” he said.
The Value for Money Office is expected to play a key role in promoting accountability and efficiency in public spending.
