Sunyani: President John Dramani Mahama has called upon traditional authorities and community members to actively engage with their respective assemblies to ensure the judicious utilization of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF). He emphasized the importance of collaboration between Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives and Assembly Members to channel the funds into meaningful community development projects for the betterment of the people.
According to Ghana News Agency, President Mahama made this call during his 'Regional Accountability Series' in Sunyani, which was part of his two-day 'Reset Ghana Tour' in the Bono Region. The forum provided an opportunity for the public to engage with the President on the state of the economy and review his one-year stewardship. He highlighted the significance of his government's 24-hour economy market model, which involves constructing standard markets across all the 261 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the country.
The President also mentioned that his government had uncapped the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which has resulted in significant funds for both institutions. Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, emphasized the government's commitment to releasing the DACF promptly for development projects and mentioned the regular payment of allowances for Assembly Members to enhance their effectiveness in local governance.
Mr. Ibrahim also stated that the government had increased allowances for paramount chiefs and queen-mothers by 300 percent, and the judicial committees of the various houses of chiefs were being adequately resourced to strengthen the chieftaincy institution. Meanwhile, Mr. Governs Kwame Agbodza, the Minister of Roads, reiterated the government's commitment to rehabilitating road networks across the country. He noted that the Bono Region is benefiting from the 'Big Push' road infrastructure programme, with projects like the Jinijini-Sampa Road progressing steadily, expected to be completed by 2027.