Assemblies must not deprive PWDs of funds
The District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) was set up to ensure that Ghana’s wealth is fairly and evenly distributed to all parts of the country and for the benefit of everybody.
As a development fund, it is granted from the central government to assist the assemblies in their efforts at bringing development to their people.
Under the DACF Act (Act 455), the assemblies are given not less than five per cent of the total revenue accruing to the nation.
The fund has become probably the most reliable source of revenue for the assemblies.
As a way of satisfying all people in the jurisdiction of the assemblies, provision has been made for the allocation of two per cent of the fund to persons with disability (PWDs). This provision is to ensure that PWDs are not disadvantaged in the share of the national cake.
In the past, PWDs had no direct assistance such as this, and so in 2007 guidelines were introduced to bring relief to the PWDs. It was thought that the allocation of part of the DACF for their welfare would enable them to fully utilise the fund to improve their lot.
Information available to the Daily Graphic, however, indicates that the PWDs are being deprived of their share of the money by the assemblies as a result of improper management of the fund.
Research conducted by Social Enterprises Development (SEND), Ghana, a civil society organisation, in 15 districts in three regions of the country paints a worrying picture of the management of the fund.
The report indicates that the District Fund Management Committees (DFMCs) set up by the assemblies to manage the DACF do not hold their quarterly meetings at which stakeholders will have the opportunity to decide on how the funds are disbursed.
The result is that decisions on disbursements are being taken in contravention of the guidelines.
Again, there are no rules to prevent the district assemblies from borrowing and many of the assemblies “borrow” from the fund, sometimes without the knowledge of the DFMC, and in some instances the assemblies do not pay back as a result of the lack of a proper monitoring system, thereby depriving the PWDs of the opportunity of accessing the fund on time.
The Daily Graphic is of the view that such practices have the tendency to completely deprive PWDs of the funds allocated to them for their welfare.
Steps should, therefore, be taken by all stakeholders to see to it that the guidelines for the usage of the fund are properly enforced.
Many PWDs depend on their share of the fund to undertake commercial activities and as support for education. Any mismanagement of the fund, therefore, will increase the frustration that they go through.
We urge the district assemblies to take steps to make sure the fund itself is properly managed, so that the PWDs in their areas will derive full benefit from it.
