The government has transferred a total of GH¢9.1 billion from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) since assuming office, Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Minister Mahama Ayariga has announced.
Mr Ayariga said the amount represented six quarters of DACF allocations and formed part of government’s efforts to strengthen decentralisation and provide local authorities with the resources needed to deliver essential services.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series at the Jubilee House on Monday, October 5, he said the transfers were guided by the principle of “Funds Follow Functions”.
According to him, local authorities could only effectively discharge their responsibilities when adequate financial resources were made available to them.
“The Ministry has facilitated the transfer of total amount of GH¢9.1 billion, six quarters of the DACF, to MMDAs for the provision of socio-economic infrastructure and improved living conditions for the Ghanaian people,” he said.
Mr Ayariga said government was committed to ensuring that not less than 88% of DACF resources were disbursed to MMDAs.
He said the increased allocation of resources to the local level would help revitalise local economies and accelerate development across the districts.
The Minister further linked the increased transfers to government’s broader commitment to decentralisation, with MMDAs expected to use the resources to provide socio-economic infrastructure and improve living conditions in their respective communities.
