A senior procurement officer at theUniversity of Energy and Natural Resources has expressed cautious support for Ghana’s new value-for-money law, while warning of potential bureaucratic delays and rising contract costs.

Baffour Antoa Mensah said the success of the policy will depend heavily on the independence of the proposed Value for Money Office and how it is implemented.

“If they are going to stay really independent… then the bill will achieve its purpose,” he said on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (12 May).

Mensah noted that the law’s objective — to enhance efficiency, transparency and accountability in public procurement — is sound, but cautioned that political interference could undermine it.

He warned that introducing mandatory pre-approval processes could deepen bureaucracy and slow down procurement timelines.

“If you are talking about the pre-stage… it is going to add on to our bureaucratic system,” he said.

Mensah also raised concerns about cost implications, arguing that fees associated with value-for-money certification could ultimately be passed on to contractors and reflected in higher contract prices.

“The supplier or contractor is going to add it to his overhead cost… and that will balloon the contract price,” he explained.

Drawing from his experience in the university procurement system, he said reduced political interference allows professionals to adhere more strictly to procurement rules — a model he suggested could inform reforms at the national level.

He also emphasised that value for money extends beyond price considerations, encompassing quality, durability, and lifecycle costs.

“Price is the last determinant… you look at specification, quality, delivery, and after-sales service,” he said.

Despite his concerns, Mensah called for amendments rather than outright rejection of the law, urging policymakers to refine the framework to better protect procurement professionals and improve implementation.