President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday swore-in Mr Michael Harry Yamson, a management consultant and governance expert into office as the Administrator of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund (DACF).
Mr Yamson’s appointment was made in line with Article 252(4) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 3 of the District Assembly’s Command Fund Act 1993, Act 455, which mandates the President, with parliamentary approval, to appoint a competent individual to oversee the management of the Fund.
The House unanimously approved Mr Yamson as the Administrator of DACF.
Speaking during the swearing in at the Presidency in Accra, President Mahama noted that a well-managed DACF could only achieve its intended impact if the central government remained committed to ensuring that funds were released on schedule and in full.
He said it was with this understanding that in the 2025 budget, there was a firm commitment to remitting at least 80 per cent of DACF allocations directly to the Districts.
He said in the past, in some cases, as much as 47 per cent of the Common Fund was disbursed from the Centre, leaving very little at the discretion of the Assemblies.
President Mahama said the policy was designed to eliminate unnecessary delays, reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, and empower local authorities to plan and execute development projects with certainty.
“By strengthening the financial autonomy of District Assemblies, we are not only reinforcing the constitutional principle of decentralization and equitable development, but also ensuring that communities across Ghana received the resources they need to drive economic growth, infrastructure expansion, and essential public services,” the President said.
“My government is committed to instituting robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure that the fund allocations were used effectively and transparently.”
President Mahama said their objective was to ensure that every city was accounted for and directed towards projects that improve the lives of their citizens.
He said to achieve this, they would collaborate with Parliament, civil society, and local stakeholders to enhance oversight, eliminate inefficiencies, and promote best practices in Fund management.
“I believe that this approach will restore public confidence in the DACF and maximize its impact as a driver of equitable development, job creation, and improved service delivery.”
The President said by strengthening decentralization, they would ensure that every region received support to thrive, foster national progress, and share prosperity; saying “as Administrator, Mr Yamson shall be at the forefront of this effort”.
The President said the task ahead demanded collective effort, transparent administration, efficient implementation, and community engagement.
“When we invest wisely in local government today, we secure national progress for generations to come,” he stated.
He said to ensure effective governance at the local level, the Constitution not only established a governance structure for decentralized administration, but also made provision for its financing through the DACF.
President Mahama said the system was designed to ensure equitable resource distribution, allowing every district to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Adding that in effect, it allowed the districts to take their destinies into their own hands; however, in recent years, the DACF had faced significant challenges that had undermined its ability to fulfill Earmarked Funds Capping and Realignment Act of 2017, Act 947, significantly reduced the financial resources that were made available to district assemblies, and thereby restricting their capacity to undertake critical development projects.
He said although the provisions of this Act affecting the DACF were eventually declared as constitutional by the Supreme Court, the period during which it was enforced had a profound impact on local governance, depriving districts of much-needed funds and stalling essential infrastructure and social services.
He said in addition, successive delays in the release of the Fund, and in some instances the failure to remit the constitutionally mandated five per cent of total national revenue, had disrupted local governance operations.
He said the setbacks had led to stalled infrastructural projects, inadequate service delivery, and growing frustration among local administrators and communities who depend on these funds for essential development.
“If we are to truly uphold the spirit of decentralization and inclusive growth, we must correct these shortcomings and ensure that the District Assemblies’ Common Fund functions as it was originally envisioned, to empower local governments and accelerate national development from the grassroots,” the President said.
“To address these challenges and restore the District Assemblies’ Common Fund to its rightful role as a catalyst for local development, we must ensure that its administration is placed in capable hands.”
President Mahama said the complexity of managing such a critical national resource demands strong financial expertise, strategic foresight, and an unwavering commitment to transparency and accountability.
He said the Administrator must not only have a deep understanding of governance and public finance, but also possess the leadership qualities necessary to drive efficiency, enforce compliance, and implement reforms that enhance the Fund’s impact.
“It is with these high standards in mind that I decided to nominate Mr Michael Harry Yamson, a seasoned strategist and governance expert whose extensive experience makes him well-equipped to navigate the challenges ahead and reposition the District Assemblies’ Common Fund as an effective tool for decentralized development.”
The President said Mr Yamson’s career had been defined by a commitment to operational excellence, accountability, and sustainable growth, with extensive expertise in financial systems, investment planning, and corporate governance; declaring that he possesses the critical skills required to effectively manage national resources and drive impactful rreforms.
He said Mr Yamson’s integrity, visionary leadership, and results-oriented mindset made him well-suited to lead the DACF at this crucial time.
On his responsibilities, the President said as an Administrator of the District Assembly’s Common Fund, Mr Yamson would be expected to prioritize financial discipline, operational efficiency, and enhance transparency.
“You are to ensure that the Fund will implement accountability-driven processes, ensuring that District Assemblies receive the necessary resources to accelerate grassroots development and enhance service delivery across the country,” he said.
“I am confident that you will bring your extensive experience in institutional reform and financial management to strengthen the DACF’s operations and position the Fund as a key pillar of Ghana’s decentralization agenda.”
He said beyond the need for competent administration of the Fund, his Government fully recognizes that timely, efficient, and adequate disbursement of resources was equally critical to the success of local government.
On his part, Mr Yamson said there was the need for the central government through the Finance Ministry to regularly and timeously deliver to the DACF the funds required to support the activities of the various District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies.
He confirmed to the President that they were almost done with the formula for the distribution of the 2025 funds.
GNA