BOG Blamed for Delay in Release of Common Fund

Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, on Monday attributed the delay in the release of the District Assemblies' Common Fund to the Bank of Ghana.

Mr Baah-Wiredu, who was addressing Chairmen of nine Urban, Town and Area Councils and Heads of Decentralised Government Departments of the Ga District Assembly at Amasaman, said the Ministry of Finance issues instructions to the Controller and Accountant-General, who in turn informs the Bank to release the quarterly allocation to the Administrator of the Fund.

He said the NPP Government was in discussions with the Bank to get the fund released on time.

The Minister told them not to rely on the fund but devise ways to collect revenue within their area and to keep a percentage for their activities.

The district assemblies and the sub-district structures should be proactive in their dealings and stop looking to the centre for directions, he said, describing the practice as retrogressive.

Mr Baah-Wiredu appealed to retired civil and public servants as well as private businessmen to take active interest in the work of the sub-district structures if they could not work in the assemblies.

He advised Ghanaians to reconsider the notion that it was demeaning to work for the assemblies after a successful civil or public life and commended Mr George Aryee, former Director-General of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and ex- Managing Director of New Times Corporation for taking up the chairmanship of the Achimota Town Council.

In an answer to a question concerning boundary disputes involving the Ga District, Accra Metropolitan and Tema Municipal Assemblies, Mr Baah-Wiredu said they would be settled to accelerate development.

The Chairmen and Heads of Departments complained about land disputes, illegal sand-winning and the lack of telephone facilities, water and residential accommodation for workers of the assembly.

The Chairman of Madina Urban Council, Mr Stephen Ocloo called for the formation of an association of chairpersons of the councils to share ideas that would improve the work of the sub-districtstructures.