The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over what they describe as a worrying delay in the disbursement of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), despite a prior announcement by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.

On Tuesday, June 3, Dr. Forson told Parliament that the government had released GH¢987 million to the DACF Secretariat for onward disbursement to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

However, more than a week later, the Minority says not a single cedi has reached the assemblies.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Friday, June 13, the Deputy Minority Whip, Habib Iddrisu, insisted the Finance Minister’s claim does not reflect reality on the ground.

“Your assemblies are crying, they are dry. Your DCEs are hiding; they are doing nothing in the assemblies,” he lamented.

“Even the MPs, you can ask your colleagues on the majority side, when they go to their constituencies, there is nothing. Your Minister of Finance will come and promise us that he has released money, meanwhile, there is nothing at the assemblies, and that's not how it is done,” he stressed.

He added that he had verified with several assemblies across the country, and none had received any funds, pointing specifically to the Tamale Metropolis, which he said had not received any disbursement for the past six months.

"What will they use to manage their assembly? You appoint people, and yet you cannot provide them with the necessary funding for them to be able to run. So Mr Speaker, with respect, the majority leader must make a follow-up and let us know exactly when the monies will hit the assembly for them to start work.”

In response, the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, defended the Finance Minister, stating that he had personally seen official correspondence confirming the release of the funds to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.

“If a member says on this floor that funds have not reached the assemblies, I am unable to confirm that,” Mr Ayariga said.

“I haven't received a testimony from any Chief Executive that he has not received any funds at his assembly. Be that as it may, I will follow up, I will check if the funds haven't hit, but I saw the letter releasing about two weeks ago. So I am very confident that indeed the Finance Minister has released the funds.”

The Minority is demanding clarity on when the funds will physically hit the accounts of the assemblies to enable them to carry out essential development and administrative activities.