Professor Akosua Keseboa Darkwah, chair of the Steering Committee of the Citizens' Platform on Constitutional Reform (CPCR), has urged the government to reconsider allocating a share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to Members of Parliament. The fund, established by the constitution, is meant to finance decentralised development projects in Ghana's 261 districts. Darkwah's call is part of a broader campaign for constitutional reform led by civil society groups.
The District Assemblies Common Fund is a pool of money drawn from a percentage of national government revenue, intended to support local development projects such as feeder roads, school blocks, health facilities, and water systems. The fund aims to give local government units a predictable source of funding, enabling them to make development decisions and spend closer to the communities that need them. However, a portion of the fund currently goes to MPs rather than staying within the district assembly structure.
According to Prof Darkwah, the practice of allocating a share of the DACF to MPs defeats the purpose of the fund, which is to support local development. District assemblies have long complained about inconsistent and delayed disbursement of their share of the Common Fund, a grievance frequently raised by assembly members and local government advocates. The diversion of part of the fund to MPs' offices adds another layer to the tension between resources promised on paper and resources that actually reach the district level.
The issue of the Common Fund allocation is part of a wider conversation on constitutional reform in Ghana. The Citizens' Platform on Constitutional Reform, led by Prof Darkwah, is one of the prominent bodies pushing for changes to how Ghana's governance structures, including local government financing, operate. The full scope of CPCR's other reform proposals has not been detailed in available reports.
The practical implications of the fund diversion are significant for ordinary Ghanaians. Money redirected away from the Common Fund means district assemblies cannot spend on roads, clinics, boreholes, and other community infrastructure that residents rely on daily. Communities that have waited years for such projects could be directly affected if a significant share of the fund continues to be diverted.
Graphic.com.gh's report did not indicate whether the government has responded to Prof Darkwah's call or whether any policy review is planned. No timeline for a government decision or parliamentary action on the matter has been given. The exact percentage or cedi value currently channelled to MPs is also not specified in available reports.
The call for reform highlights the need for a review of Ghana's governance structures and local government financing. The Citizens' Platform on Constitutional Reform and other civil society groups are pushing for changes to ensure that resources are utilised efficiently and effectively at the local level. The outcome of Prof Darkwah's call and the government's response will be crucial in determining the future of local development in Ghana.
Key points
- Prof Akosua Keseboa Darkwah wants the government to stop allocating a share of the District Assemblies Common Fund to MPs.
- The District Assemblies Common Fund is meant to finance decentralised development projects in Ghana's 261 districts.
- The issue is part of a broader campaign for constitutional reform led by civil society groups in Ghana.
