Bolgatanga, July 01, GNA - An assembly member has appealed to Parliament to increase the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) from the 7.5 per cent to 15 or 20 per cent.

Mr Alexis Ayamdor, a member of the Bongo District Assembly, told the Fund.

He said there were delays in the release of the fund as well as deductions and these affect projects.

For example, Mr Ayamdor said, the Bongo District Assembly had postponed projects due to the delays and the deductions. Mr. Ayamdor expressed worry over the inability of some assembly members to contribute to debates and as a result many assembly members were not able to lobby and attract development projects to their areas. He suggested to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to come out with programmes on capacity building for assembly members to enable them to deliver effectively.

He said civil society organizations, donors and other stakeholders could also take the responsibility in organising capacity building training for assembly members. Mr. Ayamdor said because unit committees were not functioning, more burden is added to district assemblies and appealed to the sector ministry to strengthen the unit committees to make them functional. 01 July 10