Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr. Mahama Ayariga, has called for a higher share of national revenue to be allocated to the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), arguing that stronger financing at the local level is key to accelerating development across the country.
According to him, development efforts should be driven from the grassroots, noting that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have, over time, built the capacity to manage resources and respond effectively to the needs of their communities.
Mr. Ayariga, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central and Leader of Government Business, made the call at Sirigu in the Upper East Region during the maiden celebration of the Azuko Festival by the chiefs and people of the area.
The festival, held in honour of the community’s founder, Azuko, also marked the 10th anniversary of the enskinment of Naba Atogumdeya Roland Akwara III, Paramount Chief of the Sirigu Traditional Area.
Mr. Ayariga observed that although five percent of national revenue is currently allocated to the Common Fund, the amount remains inadequate to meet the development needs of rural and deprived communities, where the majority of Ghanaians reside.
“National development should be taking place at the local level. There is no justification for keeping most of the resources at the centre and releasing only a small fraction to the districts,” he said.
He praised President John Dramani Mahama for directing that 80 percent of DACF allocations be paid directly into the accounts of district assemblies, describing the move as a major boost to local government financing.
Mr. Ayariga said the policy has improved the cash flow of district assemblies, enabling them to create jobs, stimulate local economic activity, reduce poverty and promote wealth creation within their jurisdictions.
He recalled that before the directive, several district assemblies received little or no funds from the Common Fund, severely limiting their ability to initiate and complete development projects.
The Majority Leader stressed that increasing the DACF allocation would deepen decentralisation, empower local authorities and ensure a fairer distribution of development nationwide.
He assured the people of Sirigu that the government remains committed to rural development, particularly in agriculture, education, health and infrastructure, and pledged continued support for initiatives aimed at improving living standards in rural communities.
