Ghana’s Parliament has approved the Value for Money Office Bill, 2026, a significant piece of legislation aimed at tightening oversight of how public funds are spent and ensuring that government projects deliver real benefits to citizens. The passage of the Bill clears the way for the establishment of a specialised institution dedicated to promoting efficiency, transparency and accountability in public expenditure and procurement.
The Bill was presented to Parliament in February by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson as part of broader reforms to address persistent weaknesses in the country’s public financial management system. For years, concerns have been raised about inflated contract sums, abandoned or poorly executed projects, cost overruns and wasteful spending of state resources. The new law seeks to confront these challenges by introducing a structured framework for evaluating whether public spending achieves its intended outcomes.
In explaining the rationale behind the legislation, the Finance Minister noted that the goal is to ensure that every cedi spent by government produces measurable value for the people. He emphasised that public resources must be used not only economically, but also efficiently and effectively, while promoting fairness and long-term sustainability. By institutionalising these principles, the Bill aims to shift the focus of public finance from mere expenditure to tangible results.
