DCEs call for appreciable common fund for develop projects

Takoradi, May 6, GNA - Some District Chief Executives (DCE) from the Western Region have called for an increase in their share of allocation of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF), to enable them to undertake development projects in their areas.

They noted that the 7.5 per cent share of the Common Fund allocated equally to the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies especially for those in the deprived areas are woefully inadequate to carry out any meaningful development.

They argued that while their areas produce a greater part of the nation's resources like cocoa, coffee, minerals, and other cash crops, they cannot by law levy the farmers as a way of generating revenue, as against those in other areas who levy industries and companies to raise revenue. The DECs said they are often left with little sources of avenues to generate revenue like the markets, which cannot tackle any appreciable project.

The DCEs made the call in their presentations at a two day workshop organised by the executives of the parliamentary press corps for their colleagues, MPs and DCEs at Takoradi. It was held on the theme; "The challenges in the utilization of the DACF and the need to redefine roles of the assemblies", with sponsorship from the District Assembly Common Fund. The DCEs were Mr Steven Wilks Mensah of Sefwi-Wiawso, Mr Peter Yaw Nkua-Sefwi Akontmbra, Mr Solomon Fuakye, Sefwi Juabeso, Mr Jones Amoah of Ahanta West and Mr Kobina Annan, Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly.

The DCEs claimed that on assumption of office, the assemblies did not have proper data to guide them in their work, thus compelling them to charge low rates and levies resulting in their poor performance. They mentioned some challenges confronting the assemblies as high charges by the Land Valuation Board, payment of rent for some decentralised agencies, and the sponsoring of programmes of decentralised agencies among others.

The DCEs therefore appealed to the Common Fund Administrator to consider their plight and increase their share of the fund to enable them tackle projects to the satisfaction of the constituents. Mr Joshua Magnus Nicol, DACF Administrator stressed the need for the DCEs to always spend time to inspect ongoing projects in their areas to ensure that contractors are on course, and where necessary take action against shoddy work done. He said the District Assembly Common Fund is not mandated to take action against contractors who perform unsatisfactorily, and that it was the duty of the DCEs to ensure that the proper thing was done.

Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, said in principle members of parliament do not merit any allocation from the fund.

He said since they are however judged by the development projects undertaken, it was expedient that they are given greater share of the fund, so that they would be held responsible. The Deputy Minister noted that under the current administration, three important personalities namely the DCEs, presiding members and Coordinating Directors, are mandated to append their signature to documents for the execution of project subject to the approval of the entire assembly members. To ensure accountability and transparency, he said, all the MMDS are being subjected to auditing to know their performance. Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, entreated the MMDAs for early submission of monies that come to the assemblies through the coordinating directors to serve as guidance for the disbursement of the fund.

Mr Andrew Edwin Arthur, Dean of the Parliamentary Press Corps criticized the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for its inability to recover loans taken under the Poverty Alleviation Fund. Mr Arthur said the loans amounting to billions of cedis were contracted through the banks, to support small scale businesses and wondered why action cannot be taken against defaulters, since the loans were given out 2004. The participants later inspected some projects of the various assemblies.