The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has commenced the disbursement of monthly allowances to assembly members across the country, fulfilling a major 2024 campaign promise of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama.
According to the Minister, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, a total of GHS 23,621,000 has so far been paid to cover April and May 2025, with each of the 9,085 assembly members receiving GHS1,300 per month.
“In the recent past, we have experienced a re-centralization of resources at the center and this negatively impacted on the performance of the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies”
Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister of Local Government
The Minister confirmed the payments in a detailed press statement, following the earlier release of GHS 25 million by the Ministry of Finance as the first tranche of a GHS 100 million budgeted commitment to assembly member remuneration.
This marks the implementation of a broader policy aimed at re-decentralizing resources and empowering local governance structures to reverse the development deficit and significantly hampered operations of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
To address the shortfall, the government committed to transferring 80 percent of the District Assemblies Common Fund directly to the MMDAs, and in addition, pledged to provide elected and appointed assembly members with monthly allowances to enhance their performance in the field.
“Our government also promised to resource all assembly members to be able to perform their duties efficiently and effectively in their various electoral areas”
Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister of Local Government
Budgetary Commitment Reflected
The 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Ghana allocated GHS 100 million for the payment of these monthly consolidated allowances. The provision, “found on page 73, section 395 of the budget document,” marks a historic shift in the resourcing of local governance actors.
“The objective is to enhance their capacities and to equip them with financial resources and logistics to deepen monitoring of all government projects and programs being implemented in their various electoral areas”
Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister of Local Government
In line with this objective, the Minister of Local Government formally requested the release of the GHS 100 million allocation from the Ministry of Finance on June 12, 2025.
The Ministry of Finance responded by disbursing GHS 25 million on June 18, marking the beginning of what the government describes as a sustained commitment to empowering local leadership.
The GHS 23.6 million allowances paid for the months of April and May were transferred to the accounts of all assembly members across the 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in Ghana.
This payment, the Minister insisted, is only the beginning. He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to releasing the remaining tranches in a timely manner to ensure uninterrupted support for assembly members throughout the year.
Officials believe the move will significantly strengthen the ability of assembly members to monitor government programs and projects at the grassroots level.
As outlined in the budget and policy statements, the allowances are intended not merely as compensation, but as a tool to enhance service delivery and democratic oversight in Ghana’s decentralized system.
The Ministry of Local Government underscored that this fulfilment of a manifesto pledge is part of the broader vision of President Mahama’s administration to deepen local governance and called on all assembly members to use the funds strictly for purposes that support their mandate.
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