The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has intensified scrutiny over the use of public funds allocated to Persons with Disability (PWDs), warning Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) against any misuse or diversion of the resources.
He stressed that the dedicated funds must be used strictly for their intended purpose, noting that the government would strengthen monitoring systems to ensure compliance with financial guidelines and safeguard the welfare of persons living with disabilities.
Mr Ibrahim made the remarks during a monitoring and evaluation tour of selected assemblies, including the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly, and La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly, to assess how decentralised funds are being managed.
The exercise forms part of efforts to verify whether MMDAs are effectively utilising allocations under the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) and adhering to established financial procedures.
According to the Minister, while disbursement levels of PWD funds have generally been moderate, concerns remain about the efficiency and integrity of their use at the local level.
He cautioned that any attempt by assemblies to divert or underutilise the funds would not be tolerated, recalling past incidents where some assemblies reportedly used portions of the PWD Fund for unrelated activities before reforms were introduced to protect the allocations.
Mr Ibrahim further emphasised that persons with disabilities constitute a significant segment of the population, making it critical for authorities to ensure their needs are properly addressed through accountable fund management.
He also highlighted disparities in DACF utilisation across the country, noting that while some assemblies have recorded relatively high expenditure levels, others continue to lag behind due to administrative and procurement-related delays.
The Minister pointed to delays in the issuance of authorisation from the Ministry of Finance as one of the factors affecting the timely implementation of development projects at the local level.
He called for improved transparency within assemblies, urging Coordinating Directors and Municipal Finance Officers to ensure that assembly members are fully informed about financial inflows and expenditures.
Mr Ibrahim warned that officials who withhold information from elected representatives or chief executives would face sanctions, insisting that openness and accountability are essential to strengthening local governance.
He said the monitoring exercise would continue across other regions as part of broader efforts to ensure that public funds are used efficiently to deliver development outcomes at the community level.
