The Nkwanta North District Assembly in Ghana has been ordered to return to Parliament to provide a more detailed account of its spending on sanitation funds. This decision was made by the Parliament's Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources, which expressed dissatisfaction with the Assembly's initial explanation. The committee is responsible for overseeing the use of funds allocated to district assemblies for water and sanitation projects. The Assembly's spending of the 10% District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) allocation for sanitation projects was deemed unclear.
The committee's concerns arose from gaps in the Assembly's presentation on its use of the DACF allocation. According to Ibrahimah Mohammed Zuweraa, MP for Salaga South and a member of the Committee, further clarification is needed before conclusions can be drawn about the Assembly's spending. The committee's interest extends beyond confirming that assemblies have spent their allocations; it also seeks to determine whether the funds achieved their intended results.
Zuweraa emphasized that public funds are not meant for personal use and cautioned Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives against blaming implementation delays on late DACF releases. She noted that the two quarterly allocations for 2026 have already been paid. Zuweraa urged assembly teams to be truthful when presenting their accounts, stressing that fidelity to the facts is essential for the accountability process.
The Nkwanta North District Assembly's recall is part of a broader assessment of nine district assemblies in the Oti Region. This assessment is the second phase of the Committee's nationwide accountability drive, examining how Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) access and use their DACF sanitation allocations. The assemblies presented details of their 2025 and 2026 DACF receipts, sanitation projects undertaken, and the challenges they faced.
During the assessment, the assemblies provided information on their sanitation projects and the challenges they encountered in accessing and applying the funds. The committee's nationwide accountability drive aims to ensure that district assemblies are transparent and accountable in their use of public funds. The drive also seeks to identify areas where improvements can be made to enhance the effectiveness of sanitation projects.
The Parliament's Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources has renewed calls for a dedicated national sanitation fund. This call is part of efforts to ensure that district assemblies have a stable source of funding for sanitation projects. The committee believes that a dedicated fund will help address the challenges faced by assemblies in accessing and using their DACF allocations.
The committee's actions demonstrate its commitment to ensuring that public funds are used efficiently and effectively. By scrutinizing the use of DACF allocations, the committee aims to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public funds. The recall of the Nkwanta North District Assembly serves as a reminder to district assemblies of the importance of transparent and accountable management of public funds.
Key points
- The Nkwanta North District Assembly has been summoned back to Parliament to provide a more detailed account of its spending on sanitation funds.
- The Parliament's Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources has expressed concerns over the Assembly's initial explanation of its DACF-funded sanitation spending.
- The committee has renewed calls for a dedicated national sanitation fund to ensure that district assemblies have a stable source of funding for sanitation projects.
