MP for Sene East Commends Government over Proactive Local Governance Policies
The Member of Parliament for Sene East, Hon. Dominic Napare, has lauded the government for its proactive approach to strengthening local governance through the timely release of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) and other statutory allocations.
Speaking in an interview with ExpressNewsGhana in Parliament following a recent policy statement by the Minister for Finance, Hon. Dr. Cassel Ato Forson, and Mr. Napare commended the government’s efforts to support development at the grassroots level.
He highlighted the significant release of the DACF, which he said has empowered local authorities to undertake various developmental initiatives in their communities.
Mr. Napare particularly praised the government for its initiative to supply classroom furniture to both basic and second-cycle schools across the country.
He noted that the policy, as outlined by the Finance Minister, includes the provision of over 100,000 pieces of classroom furniture in underserved districts, aimed at improving the learning environment for students.
The Finance Minister, in his policy presentation, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to decentralization and local development. He emphasized the government’s resolve to ensure that at least 80% of the DACF is disbursed to the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) for development projects, while limiting the use of the fund for recurrent expenditure to a maximum of 5%.
This measure, according to the Minister, is to prevent misuse of the funds and ensure that they are channelled into impactful infrastructure and service delivery projects such as schools, health centres, sanitation, and water facilities.
Mr. Napare echoed this concern, noting that previous administrations allocated up to 95% of statutory funds to the central government, leaving very little for local development. He commended the current government for reversing this trend and empowering the assemblies to drive development at the community level.
He further urged the Assemblies to adhere strictly to the financial guidelines and avoid exceeding the 5% ceiling for recurrent expenditure.
“Most assemblies are often tempted to use the Common Fund for recurrent costs, which undermines long-term development goals. The 5% cap is necessary to ensure accountability and focused investment in infrastructure,” he stated.
Mr. Napare concluded by reiterating the importance of decentralization in national development and called on all stakeholders to support policies that strengthen local governance structures.
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com
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