A former Local Government Minister has described as illegal failure by government to pay the District Assembly Common Fund to the various assemblies. Kwadwo Adjei Darko says the fund is a statutory payment and government has no excuse to default. The Assemblies have been complaining about the delay in payment of the fund, a situation they say, has led to the stalling of development projects. According to some DCEs and Members of Parliament they have not received a penny of the District Assembly Common Fund, since January. They say all attempts to have the government pay the money have proven futile. Speaking to Citi News on the matter, Mr Adjei Darko says government is obliged by law to pay the money to the various Assemblies. Quoting Article 252 [2] of the 1992 Constitution which provides that government must pay five per cent of total revenues to the District Assemblies for development, Mr Darko insisted that the fund is a statutory payment which must be made at all times. "It is not money for government to use," he said, adding, "If you don't pay you are violating the constitution. He said like GETFund, the District Assembly Common Fund, is a statutory fund and government has no legitimate reason to default payment in payment. He said government is engaging in illegality by failing to pay the Assemblies their fund.