The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, announced that approximately GH¢840 million has been transferred to all MMDAs this year to support the implementation of their annual action plans. This disclosure was made during the Government Accountability Series on Monday, October 6, 2026. The funds were released under the DPAT programme, which provides additional funding to assemblies that meet set performance criteria.
The DPAT programme assesses the performance of district assemblies and rewards those that meet the required standards with additional funding to support development activities. According to Mr. Ayariga, the programme aims to motivate assemblies to improve their performance and make better use of resources allocated to them. This initiative is part of the government's efforts to enhance local governance and promote development at the grassroots level.
The funding transferred to MMDAs under the DPAT programme is separate from the regular District Assembly Common Fund. Mr. Ayariga revealed that the additional resources were helping assemblies to implement projects and improve services in their respective communities. The government has been working to increase funding to local authorities, enabling them to perform their responsibilities effectively.
In a related development, the government has transferred GH¢9.1 billion to the Common Fund Administrator for disbursement to MMDAs over six quarters covering 2025 and the first two quarters of 2026. This move forms part of the government's commitment to the principle of "funds follow functions", which requires adequate resources to be provided for local authorities to perform their responsibilities.
The increased funding has contributed to the implementation of several development projects across the country. Some of the projects completed include health facilities, classroom blocks, boreholes, small-town water systems, and sanitation projects. Specifically, 397 out of 566 CHIPS compounds, 502 out of 761 classroom blocks, 3,081 out of 4,029 mechanised and hand-pump boreholes, and 97 out of 134 small-town water projects have been completed.
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, highlighted the government's commitment to providing resources to assemblies to enable them to deliver essential services and improve living conditions in communities. The government continues to prioritize local governance, ensuring that resources are allocated to support development initiatives at the grassroots level.
The DPAT programme and the increased funding to MMDAs demonstrate the government's efforts to promote local governance and development in Ghana. With the implementation of these initiatives, the government aims to improve the lives of citizens and enhance the overall development of the country. The programme's impact will be closely monitored to ensure that it achieves its intended objectives.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government has transferred GH¢840 million to MMDAs under the DPAT programme to support the implementation of their annual action plans.
- The DPAT programme assesses the performance of district assemblies and rewards those that meet the required standards with additional funding.
- The government has transferred GH¢9.1 billion to the Common Fund Administrator for disbursement to MMDAs over six quarters.
