President Mahama unveils plan for Value-for-Money Office to boost accountability

President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to establish an independent Value-for-Money Office this year to oversee public spending and ensure that state funds deliver clear benefits to citizens.

The President explained that the proposed office will examine how public funds are used to ensure that every cedi spent on behalf of the people yields measurable results.

“This year we will establish an independent value-for-money office so that every cedi spent on behalf of the people of Ghana delivers real value,” the President stated.

President Mahama announced this during his address to participants at the 77th Annual New Year School and Conference at the University of Ghana on January 6, 2025.

He linked the move to his broader governance agenda, noting that national development cannot be sustained without public confidence in state institutions.

“Good governance is not an abstract idea. It is about how power is exercised, how resources are managed and how decisions affect the daily lives of citizens,” he told the gathering.

President Mahama said accountability in public life must go beyond speeches and promises, adding that transparency should be built into public systems rather than applied selectively.

He explained that the proposed Value-for-Money Office will complement existing efforts to strengthen anti-corruption institutions, uphold the rule of law and improve discipline in public spending.

The President also referred to plans to entrench standards of conduct for public officers in law. He cited the Code of Public Officers’ Bill currently before Parliament, which is intended to convert accountability guidelines into binding legal obligations.

“It will no longer be moral persuasion. It will be law, and it must be obeyed,” President Mahama stated.

He added that national development depends not only on government action but also on discipline and responsibility among citizens and public officials.

“Development is not delivered by government alone. It is sustained by citizens who trust the system and play their part in making it work,” the President added.