President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government is preparing to release the first quarter allocation of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), following growing concerns about delays in disbursement.
The announcement comes amid criticism from the Minority in Parliament, who have accused the Finance Minister of deliberately withholding funds from key state institutions, despite the availability of resources and legal obligations nearly six months into the new administration.
Speaking during his “Thank You” tour of the Bono East Region on Friday, May 30, President Mahama emphasized that a significant portion—80%—of the released funds would be allocated directly to the regions, giving local authorities the power to determine how the resources should be utilized.
“The Minister of Finance is about to release the first quarter of the District Assemblies Common Fund. As I said, 80% of the money is going directly to the regions for you to decide how to use it. So, MMDCEs, you have no excuse,” he stated.
He further cautioned Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to use the funds responsibly, warning that failure to meet performance expectations could result in their removal from office.
“We will send you the guidelines, approved at the last Cabinet meeting, to show how the funds should be disbursed. This will serve as your Key Performance Indicators. Every year, we will assess your performance, and based on that, we will decide whether you stay or go,” the President added.
