A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nana Hemaa, has commended President John Dramani Mahama for introducing mandatory Value for Money (VFM) certification for major public contracts, describing the directive as a significant step towards promoting transparency and accountability in government spending.
She, however, believes the policy should be extended to other public and government institutions to strengthen oversight and ensure greater accountability across the public sector.
Her comments follow President Mahama’s approval of a series of procurement reforms aimed at tightening oversight of public contracts. The measures include mandatory Value for Money assessments and Cabinet approval for major single-source procurement contracts.
The reforms were introduced after a review of contracts awarded under the government’s flagship “Big Push” infrastructure programme, following concerns raised in a report submitted to the Presidency by The Fourth Estate.
Although the review found no evidence of wrongdoing in the award of the contracts, the President endorsed recommendations intended to enhance transparency, strengthen accountability, and improve financial scrutiny in public procurement.
The new measures were announced by the Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, during a media briefing on Monday, June 15, 2026.
Under the revised procurement framework, all public sector contracts awarded through single-source procurement above a specified threshold must obtain certification from the newly established Value for Money Office before they can proceed. In addition, major single-source contracts will require Cabinet clearance.
Speaking on Nkosuo Nsem on Plan B FM, hosted by Kofi Sekyi, Nana Hemaa noted that some public institutions and government agencies often underpay workers and fail to provide them with the remuneration they are entitled to.
She argued that extending Value for Money assessments and accountability mechanisms to all public institutions would help address such challenges and ensure fairness in the management of public resources.
Nana Hemaa also commended President Mahama and his administration for what she described as the government’s impressive performance since assuming office.
By: Bernard Mensah |Planbfmonline.com
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