Government to transfer over 80% of DACF directly to assemblies to deepen decentralisation
The government has announced plans to transfer more than 80 per cent of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) directly to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) as part of efforts to strengthen fiscal decentralisation and improve local governance.
Chief of Staff Mr. Julius Debrah said the initiative would enhance the autonomy of local assemblies and enable them to respond more effectively to the development needs of their communities.
Mr. Debrah made the announcement during a high-level engagement between the government and Development Partners on the implementation of the National Decentralisation Policy and Strategic Framework (NDPS) 2026 to 2030 at Jubilee House in Accra last Tuesday.
Speaking on the government’s decentralisation agenda, the Chief of Staff said the new policy framework demonstrates a strong commitment to building effective local governance institutions, improving service delivery and promoting inclusive development across the country.
He explained that the policy is also expected to strengthen coordination between central and local government institutions while accelerating development at both levels.
Mr. Debrah commended Development Partners for their continued support to Ghana’s decentralisation programme through technical assistance, policy engagement, institutional capacity building and financial support.
“The success of decentralisation depends on strong partnerships and sustained collaboration among all stakeholders,” he stated.
The Executive Secretary of the Inter Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD), Dr. Gameli Kewuribe Hoedoafia, described the approval of the policy as a significant milestone in Ghana’s governance reforms.
He, however, stressed that attention must now shift to implementation to ensure that the policy delivers meaningful benefits to citizens.
Dr. Hoedoafia acknowledged the contributions of Development Partners to the development of the policy and called for continued collaboration through the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) to decentralisation.
For his part, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, described the policy as the beginning of a new phase in Ghana’s decentralisation journey.
He said one of the key reforms under the agenda is political decentralisation, including plans to move towards a more democratic system for selecting Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
According to the Minister, the proposed reform will deepen local democracy and give citizens a greater voice in choosing their local leaders.
Speaking on behalf of Development Partners, Ms. Janine Walz, Deputy Ambassador of Switzerland to Ghana and Chargé d’Affaires, welcomed the approval of the policy and reaffirmed support for its implementation.
She commended Ghana for the progress made in advancing decentralisation but urged authorities to intensify efforts to strengthen accountability, enhance citizen participation and improve the financial independence of local assemblies.