Mahama pledges 80% direct fund allocation to districts - As new DACF Administrator is sworn in

The President, John Dramani Mahama, has charged the new Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), Michael Harry Yamson, to prioritise financial discipline, transparency and efficient resource allocation to drive grassroots development.  

He also urged him to strengthen the DACF’s operations as a key pillar of Ghana’s decentralisation agenda. 

Swearing-in

The President gave the charge during the swearing-in of Mr Yamson at the Jubilee House yesterday.

The short ceremony was attended by the friends and family of Mr Yamson, including his father, Dr Ismael Yamson, and senior government officials, including the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah.

Also in attendance were government officials, traditional leaders and development partners.  

Direct transfers

A major policy shift announced by the President is the government’s commitment to directly transfer at least 80 per cent of DACF allocations to District Assemblies in the 2025 budget.

This move seeks to eliminate bureaucratic delays and empower local authorities.  

"In the past, as much as 47 per cent of the Common Fund was retained at the centre, leaving Assemblies with little discretion," President Mahama said, adding, "This new policy will ensure funds are released on schedule and in full —because development cannot wait."

Tackling Bureaucracy

The President emphasised that decentralisation was meaningless without financial autonomy for local governments.

He stated that his administration was implementing digital tracking systems to enhance transparency and accountability in fund utilisation.  

"We are working to eliminate inefficiencies, promote best practices and ensure every cedi reaches its intended purpose, accelerating infrastructure, job creation and service delivery," he added.  

While praising the new Administrator’s integrity, visionary leadership, and resource-oriented mindset, highlighting his expertise in financial systems, corporate governance and institutional reforms, President Mahama expressed confidence that the new Administrator’s leadership, combined with these reforms, would "restore public confidence in the DACF" and maximise its impact on equitable development nationwide.  

Priority, collaboration

In his remarks, Mr Yamson vowed to prioritise reducing development inequalities across Ghana's municipalities and districts.  

"My task, and that of my team, is to ensure that over the next four years, we do justice to deprived communities, those lacking access to health care, clean water, quality education, and even basic infrastructure like tarred roads," he stated.  

The DACF Administrator emphasised that effective decentralisation required strong partnerships, particularly with the Ministry of Local Government and the Finance Ministry.  

"This is not a task I can accomplish alone," he noted. "It demands close collaboration to ensure funds are released regularly, on time, and in full, as emphasised by the President," he added.

Providing an update on fiscal preparations, the Administrator confirmed: "We are almost done with the 2025 DACF allocation formula, and we have just crossed the 80 per cent mark for direct transfers to districts. 

“While we’re not yet at 81 per cent, this commitment ensures that funds will reach local authorities as soon as they are received," he said.­­­­

He further expressed gratitude to his team and reaffirmed their dedication to transparent and impactful resource distribution to bridge Ghana’s development gaps.