Minority Fumes Over Common Fund

Kwame Governs Agbodza

The Minority in Parliament has accused the Ministry of Finance of failing to release money for development to the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) since 2018.

Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza, said DACF releases are GH¢6.2 billion behind schedule, accusing Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta of intentionally depriving District Assemblies of funds for local administration.

Speaking to the media in Parliament, he stated that if nothing is done to address the situation, the Minority planned to boycott the Finance Ministry’s activities.

Mr. Agbodza explained that the Minority would demand quick release of money from the Finance Ministry because the delay is a violation of the 1992 Constitution.

He made the comment after the House had met with Common Fund Administrator, Naa Torshie Addo and said the development had rendered all the Assemblies helpless.

He disclosed that the GH¢6.2 billion figure was made up of disbursements that should have been paid into the DACF from 2018 to 2022.

Benjamin Kpodo, MP for Ho Central, and Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, MP for Odododiodio and Ranking Member of the Local Government Committee in Parliament, urged the Finance Minister to immediately release monies into the DACF since the situation was putting pressure on MPs.

They argued that the delay in releasing monies to the DACF has adversely affected the work of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across the country.

By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House