John Dramani Mahama Pledges to Increase District Assemblies Common Fund from 5% to 7% of Elected in 2024

Former President John Dramani Mahama, standing as the presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has committed to elevating the District Assemblies Common Fund from its current 5% to 7% should he secure victory in the upcoming 2024 elections. Emphasizing the necessity of empowering district assemblies for more effective local governance, Mahama made this promise in his hometown of Bole following his participation in the district assembly elections on Tuesday, December 19, 2023.

Expressing his vision for a more empowered local government, Mahama affirmed, “In the event of a successful outcome in the 2024 elections, we will prioritize decentralization and ensure a two-percentage-point increase in the District Common Fund allocation from 5% to 7%, reinstating the policy set in 2016. This boost aims to ensure consistent disbursement of the District Assemblies Common Fund, enabling districts to expedite their developmental strides.”

Furthermore, Mahama highlighted the importance of completing the decentralization process to truly delegate power to local communities. He stressed that Ghana’s progress hinges significantly on achieving effective decentralization and vowed to prioritize this aspect of governance if elected.

Addressing challenges encountered during the recent district assembly elections, Mahama urged the Electoral Commission of Ghana to implement preemptive measures to prevent a recurrence of issues like malfunctioning equipment and delayed voting processes in the forthcoming 2024 general elections. He underscored the high stakes of the upcoming elections and stressed the critical need to preemptively address these challenges to ensure a smooth electoral process.

Source: CitiNewsroom