Despite assurances from the Finance Ministry, local government bodies across Ghana remain cash-strapped, with Members of Parliament raising alarm over the delayed disbursement of District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) allocations—jeopardizing essential services and grassroots development.
On June 3, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson informed Parliament that GH¢987 million had been released to the DACF for onward distribution to Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs). However, over a week later, the funds have reportedly not reached the assemblies, raising concerns over transparency and operational setbacks in local governance.
Deputy Minority Whip Habib Iddrisu, addressing the issue on the floor of Parliament, painted a dire picture of stalled projects, unpaid staff, and growing frustration within local governments.
“Our assemblies are completely dry. They cannot function. You can’t appoint people and then starve them of the resources needed to work,” he said, accusing the government of making announcements without delivering tangible results.
The funding delay is already disrupting planning and implementation of community-level initiatives, including sanitation efforts, road maintenance, and education support services. Assembly officials, he noted, are “hiding” from their constituents due to the lack of resources to fulfill mandates.
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga acknowledged the concerns but said he had seen official documentation confirming the release of funds weeks earlier. “I haven’t received any direct complaint from a District Chief Executive. But now that it’s come up, I’ll investigate,” he said, promising to follow up.
As Parliament prepares to receive the Mid-Year Budget Statement in July, MPs are pushing for clarity and action to ensure that funds allocated for local governance reach their intended destinations—before development grinds to a halt at the community level.
