Claims by the former Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), Irene Naa Torshie, that the Akufo-Addo administration failed to approve funds for disbursement to district assemblies have been contradicted by official records from the Ministry of Finance and the then Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development.

Naa Torshie has repeatedly criticised former President Akufo-Addo and former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, alleging that her office was denied the funds needed to support development projects across the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs). Her comments have, however, drawn strong rebuttals from some former MMDCEs of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who accuse her of withholding monies that had already been approved.

At a recent press conference, Naa Torshie insisted her office had been frustrated. “The President, Nana Akufo-Addo, and Bawumia refused to release the common funds to me. Every fund approved by Parliament was disbursed according to the laid-down formula,” she claimed.

Local Government Ministry raised concerns directly with the President

Documents show that the Ministry of Local Government formally reported concerns about the non-disbursement of approved funds. In a letter dated 10 July 2023, then Minister Dan Botwe wrote to President Akufo-Addo, warning that the Administrator’s lack of cooperation was affecting development at the local level.

“The Ministry would want to bring to the attention of His Excellency the President some challenges being faced in the utilisation of the District Assemblies Common Fund… as a result of lack of cooperation from the Office of the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator,” the letter stated.

According to the Ministry, the failure to release funds had stalled planned development activities, prompting further correspondence to the DACF in December 2023. That letter, too, went unanswered.

Finance Ministry followed up in February 2024

In February 2024, the Ministry of Finance also wrote to the DACF Administrator, expressing concern that funds approved for 2023 had still not reached the intended beneficiaries. The correspondence referenced a December 2023 request from the Ministry of Local Government directing the transfer of GH¢181.8 million to MMDAs and the DPAT Secretariat for the implementation of DPAT VI activities.

“We have noted with concern that these funds have since not been received in the accounts of the beneficiaries… This is hindering the progress of work and effective operations of the MMDAs,” the Finance Ministry stated in the letter signed by then Minister Dr Mohammed Amin Adam.

Development partners raised alarms

The Finance Ministry further indicated that Ghana’s development partners had expressed dissatisfaction with the delays. It warned that donor support was at risk, citing concerns from the Swiss Government, which had withheld a new CHF 22 million grant — including CHF 6 million earmarked for DPAT VII — because earlier disbursements for 2023 had not been transferred to the assemblies.

According to the Ministry, the delays posed a significant threat to continued external support for local development programmes.

Naa Torshie has faced criticism from within the NPP, with some former MMDCEs blaming her for contributing to the party’s 2024 electoral defeat. They argue that the stalled disbursements impeded development efforts that could have strengthened support for the party at the local level.