In Ghana and many other developing countries, parliamentarians often take on a broader role as agents of development within their communities and constituencies, despite their primary legislative functions of oversight, legislation, and representation.
Traditionally, members of parliament (MPs) have relied on the District Assemblies Common Fund as a significant source of funding for various developmental projects. This fund serves as a means to transfer financial resources from the central government to local governments, known as Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), to address local development challenges.
Elijah Adansi-Bonah, the Chief Executive of the Obuasi Municipal Assembly, has expressed his appreciation for the judicious utilization of the MPs’ Common Fund by the Member of Parliament representing the Obuasi West Constituency, Kwaku Kwarteng.
During a media briefing following an inspection of completed projects initiated through the Common Fund, MCE Adansi-Bonah commended MP Kwarteng for his projects, which directly addressed the key challenges facing the constituency.
“So far, we have completed 6-unit classroom blocks at Kokoteasua Experimental School, Bogobiri, Adaase School and the Bidieso School is almost complete.”
Elijah Adansi-Bonah
Accompanied by officials from the Assembly, the MCE visited several sites to witness the positive impact of the MP’s projects. Notable projects included an 8-seater water closet toilet facility constructed at the Kokoteasua Experimental School, a 3-classroom block at Bogobiri School, footbridges at Old Abompekrom and New Nyamebekyere, and a 10-seater water closet toilet facility at the Kwabena Fori School.
The allocation of the District Assemblies Common Fund, which MPs receive, plays a crucial role in helping them address local developmental challenges in their constituencies, focusing on areas like education, infrastructure, and community facilities.
Speaking about the significance of the MPs’ Common Fund, MCE Adansi-Bonah highlighted its role in complementing the Assembly’s efforts to bridge the infrastructural gap within the educational sector in Obuasi. He explained that his team had conducted an audit of infrastructural facilities in the educational sector, identifying challenges and working out strategies to address them..
During the handover of the 8-seater water closet toilet facility at the Kokoteasua Experimental School, the school’s Headteacher, Ayishetu Tahiru, expressed her gratitude to MP Kwarteng for resolving a crucial issue affecting the school. She acknowledged that the students and staff now have access to proper restroom facilities, relieving them of a longstanding challenge.
Kwaku Agyemang Kwarteng, who serves as a Member of Parliament for the Obuasi West Constituency under the New Patriotic Party, has brought his background as a Ghanaian civil engineer, economist, and politician to his role in Parliament, striving to make a positive impact on his constituency through these essential developmental initiatives.
The Challenge Associated With DACF
A recent study shed light on how the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) is perceived and utilized in Ghana. The research found that many citizens believe that the DACF is the primary allocation from the central government to Members of Parliament (MPs) and that it primarily funds all development projects in their constituencies.
Many citizens believe that MPs rely heavily on their share of the DACF for various constituency needs, including supporting needy students, facilitating NHIS registration for the less privileged, and assisting health directorates and facilities. MPs themselves acknowledged that while the DACF isn’t exclusively earmarked for specific sectors like education or health, they often use it to supplement support in these areas when other funds, such as GETFund or NHIA, are exhausted.
However, one key aspect to note is that MPs can use the DACF for various purposes within their constituencies, provided it receives approval from the MMDCE. This flexible use of funds sometimes leads to tensions and conflicts between MPs and MMDCE. These conflicts can occur regardless of whether they belong to different political parties or the same party.
Scholars have pointed out that these conflicts often arise due to individual selfish interests rather than a genuine pursuit of local people’s needs. The utilization of the DACF in Ghana has been a longstanding challenge for transparency and accountability.
However, the cooperation between the Obuasi West’s Member of Parliament and its MCE is commendable and very promising.
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