Chieftaincy Disputes Stalling Ghana's Local Development Funds

Chieftaincy Disputes Hamper Ghana's District Assemblies Common Fund, Expert Warns Ghana's local governance system faces significant challenges in maximizing the benefits of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), according to Andy Bediako, a Local Governance Expert. Speaking on JoyNews' News Desk, Bediako pointed to the pervasive issue of chieftaincy disputes as a major obstacle to boosting the Internal Generated Funds (IGF) that contribute to the DACF. The Finance Ministry recently released the first-quarter allocation of the DACF, underscoring the urgency of addressing these challenges. "Some assemblies cannot even generate about 300,000 Ghana cedis a year," Bediako stated, highlighting the stark disparity in revenue generation across different districts. He further explained that while some assemblies generate tens of millions of cedis annually, a flat allocation of 25 million cedis to all assemblies leaves many underfunded. Bediako emphasized that chieftaincy disputes are a widespread problem across Ghana's assemblies, hindering development efforts. He urged the government to take proactive steps to resolve these conflicts to unlock the full potential of the DACF. His comments highlight the need for a more nuanced approach to funding local development that accounts for the varying capacities and challenges faced by different assemblies.