By Franklin Asare-Donkoh
The Member of Parliament for Kintampo North, Joseph Kwame Kumah, has lauded the government for the timely disbursement of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), noting that the prompt release is helping to accelerate grassroots development.
Speaking during the ongoing debate on the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) in the Parliament of Ghana, the Kintampo North lawmaker said he was satisfied that the era of chronic delays in releasing the fund, which often stalled critical district projects, appears to be over.
According to Mr Kumah, the regular disbursement of the funds has enabled his constituency to initiate and complete several “quick-win” projects in the sectors of education, health and sanitation.
He noted that for a constituency such as Kintampo North, which serves as a major transit hub, the availability of resources is crucial for maintaining local infrastructure.
“I must commend the government and the Administrator of the Common Fund for ensuring that these allocations reach us on time,” the MP said.
“This promptness allows the assemblies to plan effectively and ensures that contractors are paid, preventing the accumulation of interest on delayed payments,” he added.
Mr Kumah also criticised the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for what he described as its failure to adequately fund the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), which he said affected students’ performance.
He further highlighted challenges with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which he said experienced increased claims processing delays under the previous administration.
The Kintampo North MP commended the government’s commitment to supporting educational institutions and ensuring the NHIS functions effectively, reiterating his dedication to advocating for the needs of his constituents and promoting accountability in governance.
While offering his commendation, he also urged the government to consider an upward review of the DACF allocation in future budgets to meet the growing demands of increasing populations in the districts.
Debate on the president’s address continues in parliament, with members from both sides of the aisle assessing the government’s performance over the past year.
