The Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has criticised the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing it of lacking policy direction and fiscal discipline in its handling of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).
Addressing a press conference in Parliament, Annoh-Dompreh described the government’s approach to the 2025 DACF Guidelines and related fund releases as “a worrying pattern of administrative improvisation rather than structured governance.”
He argued that the Ministry of Local Government’s issuance of the 2025 Guidelines—which prescribe fixed national expenditure percentages for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs)—creates a disconnect between Cabinet decisions and parliamentary authority. According to him, Parliament had already approved a data-driven DACF formula for 2025, and 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 termed inconsistent fiscal prioritisation, noting that while other statutory funds have received significant disbursements, DACF arrears continue to weigh heavily on district assemblies.
“Local development cannot be sustained on uncertainty. Contractors are unpaid, projects are stalled, and assemblies are left in limbo,” he said, stressing that predictable and constitutionally compliant transfers are essential to effective decentralised governance.
He also questioned the broader policy direction of the administration, suggesting that executive decisions 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.
The Minority Chief Whip urged the government to withdraw or substantially revise the guidelines and strictly adhere to the parliamentary-approved formula, warning that fiscal uncertainty could erode public confidence. He reaffirmed the Minority’s commitment to sustained parliamentary oversight.
Source:
oyerepafmonline.com
