Irene Naa Torshie Addo (middle)
Parliament on Wednesday approved the nomination of the administrator of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF), Irene Naa Torshie Addo, who was vetted on Tuesday with a heated debate on the constitutionality of the termination of the appointment of the immediate past administrator, Kojo Fynn.
The Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka who raised the issue, said President Akufo-Addo has set a bad precedent by terminating the appointment of the immediate past administrator even though he was appointed and given a second four-year term by the previous government, which would have ended in 2019.
According to the minority chief whip, the President did not treat the immediate past administrator fairly and that he should have allowed him to complete his tenure of office.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Akuapem South, who is a Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, O.B. Amoah said the president acted within the remit of the law.
According to Mr Amoah, President Akufo-Addo asked the immediate past administrator to proceed on leave in accordance with Article 199 of the constitution which makes it mandatory for occupants of public offices to retire at the age of 60 years unless the President decides to give the person two-year contract for two terms and an additional one year.
He said the immediate past administrator attained the retirement age of 60 years in September last year and that the former President John Mahama ought to have known that it was unconstitutional for a person to occupy an office in the public or civil service beyond 60 years unless he is given a contract of two years.
“President Akufo-Addo was right to ask the immediate past administrator to proceed on leave and the subsequent termination of his appointment thereof,” Hion O. B. Amoah said.
Hon O.B Amoah asked the new administrator to carefully read the New Local Governance Act and make sure that she works strictly in accordance with its provisions.
The MPs were however convinced that the newly appointed administrator would do a very good job to improve the output of the office as a former Member of Parliament, who knows the intricacies of the importance of the fund.
The second deputy speaker of parliament, Alban Bagbin asked the new administrator to collaborate closely with the Local Government Committee of Parliament and the House as a whole to ensure that the Common Funds for development at the district levels are released on time by the Ministry of Finance.
“We, as Parliament, need to support the new administrator to be able to succeed and deliver,” the second deputy speaker said, adding that it was unfortunate that the Common Fund, which should be common to the district assemblies, are no more common and that district assemblies and MPs have to struggle before they get access to the Common Fund.
“I think the name of the Common Fund should be changed to District Development Fund because these days the Common Fund is not common to us,” the second deputy speaker pointed out.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Kpando, Della Sowah, asked the new administrator to impress upon the district assemblies to educate constituents on how MPs share of the Common Fund could be utilized because many constituents have the wrong impression that they are meant for the construction of roads in their various constituencies.
The majority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said it was sad that assemblies complain about delay in the release of the Common Funds but when they are released the funds are misused or misapplied at the assemblies.
“Mr Speaker, I entreat the Auditor-General to focus its lenses more on the assemblies and how they utilize the Common Fund and he will be amazed at how the funds are used by the assemblies,” he said, adding that most District Chief Executives and other officers at the assemblies are able to put up huge mansions during the time that they work with the assemblies.
By Thomas Fosu Jnr