Quantity surveyors across Ghana have been urged to uphold the highest standards of professional integrity and accountability to ensure that public funds invested in infrastructure development deliver maximum value to the nation.

Chairperson for the Quantity Surveying Division of Ghana Institution of Surveyors(GhIS), Surv Nana Nuamah Kyei-Bafour, made the call at the division’s 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital on Thursday, October 8, 2026.

The four-day conference, held under the theme, “The Value for Money Office Act, 2026: Positioning Quantity Surveyors as Strategic Partners in Delivering Accountable, Transparent and Value-Driven Public Infrastructure,” brought together industry professionals, traditional authorities, government representatives and political leaders to deliberate on the future of quantity surveying and its contribution to national development.

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Surv Kyei-Bafour said Ghana’s rapid urbanisation and expanding infrastructure needs, including roads, housing, schools, public facilities and commercial developments, made the conference theme particularly relevant.



He stressed that the country’s infrastructure agenda must go beyond the cost of projects to examine whether public investments achieve their intended objectives and deliver lasting benefits to citizens.

According to him, quantity surveyors must assume a more strategic role in public infrastructure delivery by applying their expertise in cost management, procurement, risk assessment and commercial management from the planning stages of projects through to completion.

He noted that with every cedi of public resources counting towards national development, quantity surveyors have a responsibility to ensure that funds are used efficiently, transparently and in the public interest.

President of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors, Surv Emmanuel Kofi Cobbold, also highlighted the significance of the Value for Money Office Act, 2026, describing it as an opportunity for quantity surveyors and other professionals in the surveying sector to demonstrate the full extent of their expertise.

He said the establishment of the office would create opportunities for the profession to contribute more meaningfully to public-sector project evaluation, cost control and accountability.

Surv Cobbold noted that the office was expected to begin operations in January 2027, following the Act’s presidential assent earlier in 2026.

He urged quantity surveyors to intervene early in project planning and design to identify potential cost overruns, construction risks and maintenance expenses before they become difficult and expensive to address.



He explained that value for money should begin with critical questions about the necessity of a project, the clarity of its scope, the feasibility of its design and whether the cost of construction and long-term maintenance can be sustained within available resources.

He further cautioned that an attractive tender price does not necessarily guarantee value, as incomplete designs and poor planning can lead to costly variations, delays and premature repairs.

Surv Cobbold called on the Quantity Surveyors Division to develop practical recommendations to support the new office, particularly through reliable construction cost benchmarks, whole-life costing methods and independent project assessments.

He also emphasised the need for professional independence, sound technical advice and the proper disclosure and management of conflicts of interest, noting that public confidence would depend on the integrity of the profession’s work.

Traditional authorities, government officials and political leaders who participated in the four-day AGM also encouraged surveyors to prioritise the national interest in the discharge of their professional responsibilities.

The conference reaffirmed the importance of quantity surveyors in promoting prudent public spending and ensuring that infrastructure projects deliver sustainable benefits to communities.



As Ghana continues to invest in critical infrastructure, the profession is expected to play an increasingly important role in strengthening cost discipline, transparency and accountability while helping ensure that public resources translate into tangible development outcomes.