Legal Green Association Urges Gov't To Utilize Proposed Value For Money Office To Instill Maintenance-Oriented Culture

The Legal Green Association of the Ghana School of Law, a left-wing association commends the Government of Ghana for the bold and innovative initiative to create a Value for Money Office (VfMO) as contained in the 2026 budget statement and economic policy presented by the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson on Thursday, November 13, 2025.

According to the Finance Minister, The Value for Money Office (VfMO) shall be an independent body to guarantee that public spending delivers real value. The VfMO is expected to move government from box-ticking to outcome accountability, thereby, cutting waste, restoring trust, and freeing fiscal space for roads, schools, hospitals, and jobs. According to Dr. Ato Forson, the objective of the VfMO is to;

• verify that major projects are economically justified and technically sound;
• ensure prices reflect national cost benchmarks; require measurable results from MDAs and MMDAs; and
• publish transparent performance reports for citizens and Parliament.

The VfMO office is expected to be highly involved in project life cycle: pre-award reviews to certify scope, cost, financing, and timelines before approval; post-award monitoring to prevent overruns and enforce quality during delivery; and post-completion evaluations to confirm value created.

It is a well-known issue regarding the absence of proper maintenance practices in our public buildings and institutions throughout the country. According to Dr. Kwame Aduhene-Kwarteng, PhD, MA, the continuing degradation and disintegration of Ghana’s private and public infrastructure gives the impression that the phrase “maintenance” is absent from the Ghanaian vernacular.

A weak maintenance culture in Ghana has manifested in a variety of ways, including: Infrastructure decay: Neglected maintenance leads to the gradual deterioration of roads, buildings, and utilities, resulting in costly repairs and replacements down the line. A classic example is the case of Essipong Stadium, completed at a cost of $38.5m, which was left to rot for years. Not forgetting the “GEE” blocks of Okomfo Anokye, which were constructed in 1954 but have never undergone any comprehensive renovation despite their intensive use over the last seven decades. Thanks to the Heal Komfo Anokye Project by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the project is now undergoing renovation and modernization. Some other major public facilities in Ghana such as Baba Yara, and Cape Coast stadiums, the National Theatre, the Lower Volta Bridge, and Efua Sutherland Park etc, have deteriorated due to neglect, poor budgeting, weak oversight, and the absence of planned maintenance.

The failure in maintenance causes economic losses (reduced tourism and higher repair costs), social harm (fewer safe recreational spaces and declining sports development), reputational damage (reduced investor confidence and fewer international events), and serious safety risks. Overall, the lack of consistent maintenance undermines national development and public welfare.

The Value-for-Money Office (VfMO) therefore presents a valuable opportunity for the government to institutionalize post-assessment of projects funded by public resources to guarantee their sustainability. Entrenching a culture of maintenance will require diligent oversight, adequate resources for maintenance, and sanction for negligence. The VfMO, when established, must initiate a comprehensive campaign aimed at fostering a maintenance-oriented culture. Their post-assessments should not be merely a passing phase, but rather an essential aspect of the office's responsibility to always hold facility managers accountable.

To support the work of the VfMO, the Legal Green association recommends the following;

1. Legal Backing and Independence:

The VfMO must be granted full statutory independence, with secure tenure for its leadership and clearly demarcated functions to prevent political interference. Parliament should consider embedding explicit sanctions for non-compliance within its enabling law.

2. Whistleblower Protections:

Given the VfMO’s reliance on accurate reporting, the Government should strengthen the Whistleblower Act to offer enhanced protection, anonymity, and incentives for individuals who expose poor maintenance culture

3. Training for Local Assemblies:

We recommend mandatory VfMO-led capacity-building for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to ensure consistency and compliance nationwide.

Conclusion
The 2026 Budget presents one of the most comprehensive and ambitious development blueprints in recent years. As the Legal Green Association of the Ghana School of Law, we commend the Government’s vision of a stabilized, inclusive, and transformed economy. However, the effectiveness of these policies will depend largely on legal robustness, institutional accountability, community engagement, and environmental sustainability.

We remain committed to supporting national development through legal research, civic education, and advocacy for responsible governance.

Signed
Festus Matey
Leader, LGA
Evans Mawunyo Tsikata
Politics and Elections Affairs - LGA