Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh
The Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has accused the NDC administration of lacking policy direction and fiscal discipline, arguing that recent developments surrounding the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) expose deeper governance inconsistencies.
Addressing a press conference in Parliament, he said the government’s handling of the 2025 DACF Guidelines and fund releases reflects “a worrying pattern of administrative improvisation rather than structured governance.”
According to him, the issuance of the 2025 Guidelines by the Ministry of Local Government, which impose fixed national expenditure percentages on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), demonstrates a disconnect between Cabinet decisions and parliamentary authority.
He stressed that Parliament had already approved a data-driven DACF formula for 2025 and that any attempt to vary it administratively undermines constitutional order.
“When a government cannot align its own guidelines with a formula duly approved by Parliament, it signals a lack of coherence at the centre,” he stated.
Annoh-Dompreh further criticised what he described as inconsistent fiscal prioritisation.
He argued that while other statutory funds have seen significant releases, DACF arrears continue to burden district assemblies.
“Local development cannot be sustained on uncertainty. Contractors are unpaid, projects are stalled, and assemblies are left in limbo,” he said. He added that predictable and constitutionally compliant transfers are essential to maintaining decentralised governance.
He also questioned the broader policy direction of the administration, suggesting that executive actions appear reactive rather than strategic.
“Governance requires consistency, discipline and fidelity to law. What we are witnessing is an unsettling drift — where guidelines override formulas and discretion overrides constitutional clarity,” he remarked.
He insisted that decentralisation cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fiscal unpredictability.
The Minority Chief Whip concluded by urging the government to withdraw or substantially revise the guidelines and restore strict adherence to the parliamentary formula.
“This is not about partisan contest. It is about constitutional governance. A government that loses direction in public finance risks losing public confidence,” he warned, reaffirming the Minority’s commitment to sustained oversight.
Source:
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