News:
May 28, 2025
Following complaints by the Minority in parliament that government’s delay in releasing statutory payments was affecting effective performance at various government agencies, the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga wondered why the Minority should be blaming the government knowing the reasons for the delay.
Responding to the issues at Leader’s Media Briefing in parliament on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 Mr Ayariga noted that even though the formula for the disbursement of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) was approved by participant, the leadership at the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies was now being constituted; thus the approval of chief executives.
As such it was important to finish with the confirmation of the MMDCEs before the monies are released, and pointed out that “if we had sent the money, who would oversee the money, who would spend the money? The money is going to be spent by the Assemblies and the Assemblies are not in existence, so even though we approved the formula, the finance minister was holding the money and waiting for when we actually have the Assemblies in place and the MCEs and DCEs and the Mayors are in place, then he will release the funds to them”.
According to him, having gotten a majority of the Chief Executives in place, cabinet has approved the distribution of funds in line with what parliament has approved.
He assured that the government’s decision to transfer not less than 80 percent of the funds to the Assemblies would be respected; adding that because of the large sums that would be going to the Assemblies, the government would guide the utilization of the funds to ensure only 5 percent is expended on administrative issues while the rest is used on very important capital expenditure at the district including building of roads, health facilities, schools water projects among others.
The Majority Leader also reiterated the resolve of government to up the responsibility of Members of Parliament to monitor the utilization of the funds and report; stating that MPs have been provided with budgetary allocation for that.
Ghanamps.com