Former District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) Administrator, Joshua Magnus Cole, has called on Parliament’s Select Committee on Local Government to intervene in the ongoing dispute between the Fund and the Ministry for Local Government and Rural Development.
He stated that the conflict between Minister Daniel Kweku Botwe and Administrator Irene Naa Torshie Addo is personal rather than just an institutional disagreement.
Magnus Cole advised President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to forward a complaint letter from the Local Government Minister to Parliament to address the impasse.
The Minister has reportedly written a letter to President Akufo-Addo in which he complained of a lack of collaboration whatsoever from DACF Administrator.
The Administrator, he said, does not involve, engage or consult the Minister in any form in the development of the formula proposed to Parliament.
However, Mr. Magnus Cole argued that the Local Government Law, Act 936 governs both the Minister and the Administrator, and so, there should be no issue of usurpation of power as the functions are clearly outlined.
“The Administrator is to propose a Formula annually for the Common Fund for approval by Parliament,” said Magnus Cole.
“When that Formula is approved, the Administrator is to administer and distribute monies paid into the Common Fund among the District assemblies in accordance with the formula approved by parliament.”
“Report to Parliament in writing on how allocations made from the Common Fund to the District Assemblies have been utilised by the Assemblies.”
“And perform any other function that the President may direct.”
According to him, no Ministry has been mentioned by Act 936 to supervise the functions of the Administrator.
He stressed, therefore, that if the administrator is going strictly by her functions, there should be no problem between the two.
Mr. Magnus Cole indicated that the Administrator presents a formula to Parliament every year and when approved, she goes ahead to disburse the funds according to the formula.
According to him, the Local Government Minister is only mentioned in Section 126(3), which says the Minister shall in consultation with the Minister for Finance determine the category of expenditures of the approved development budget of the district assemblies each year to meet amounts received by the DACF.
“That is the only aspect where the two Ministers will give instructions to the Assembly on the area that they can use their funds for,” he added.
Deputy Minority Whip Ahmed Ibrahim disputed claims that the DACF had snubbed the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development in fund disbursement.
He clarified that the Administrator reports to Parliament, and not the Minister, but suggested it would be helpful if the Minister responds to letters for inputs when requested to do so.
“On 3rd April 2023, the Administrator wrote to the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to inform them of a visit by a team of officials to monitor the projects and programs funded by the Common Fund, scheduled from 25th April to 16th May 2023,” explained Ahmed Ibrahim. “On 25th April 2023, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development wrote a letter to the MMDCEs asking them not to attend the visit.”
The Committee of Local Government and Rural Development, he said, remains committed to upholding the principles of decentralization and ensuring that the Common Fund is utilized for the benefit of all citizens at the grassroots level.