The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has proposed the establishment of an independent Value for Money Office to combat corruption.
He asserts that any contract exceeding $5 million or as may be determined by Parliament, must undergo a value for money audit to ensure that Ghanaians receive fair value for public projects.
In a media engagement in the Bono Region on September 11, 2024, Mr. Mahama criticized the current government for contributing to corruption.
He highlighted a statement from the President’s own Special Prosecutor, who had labeled the President as a significant figure in corruption, suggesting that if the leader fighting corruption is deemed corrupt, the battle is effectively lost.
Mr. Mahama advocates for a streamlined process where individuals found guilty of misappropriating public funds are swiftly prosecuted. He emphasizes that those who are innocent should be exonerated, while those found guilty should face appropriate sanctions.
He believes that without a deterrent, public funds will continue to be misused.
Additionally, Mr. Mahama addressed procurement practices, citing them as a major area of corruption. He noted that while his administration used sole sourcing primarily for projects funded by foreign loans, the current government has misused the process for various contracts, despite criticizing sole sourcing in the past.
To address these issues, Mr. Mahama proposes the creation of an independent Value for Money Office to audit contracts over $5 million or any other amount determined by Parliament adding that his government and the Operation Recover All the Loot to do a forensic audit into different funds misappropriated by the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration.
