Ghana: MPs Common Fund illegal, Local Govt Expert

BY ANIN AGYEI-

NEW AFRICA DAILY  NEWS, Accra, Ghana- A LOCAL governance expert in Ghana, Mr. George Kyei-Baffour has described Members of Parliament’s share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) as illegal.’

Also, the delay of disbursement of District Assemblies common fund he said is unconstitutional adding that the various Metropolitan and Municipal District Chief Executives (MMDCE) have the mandate to sue government.

Mr. Kyei-Baffour was expressing his view on the referendum which is expected to give Ghanaians the opportunity to vote yes or no on December 17, 2019.

Speaking to the media, he advised Ghanaians to vote yes but clashed with his colleague local governance expert Mr. Amon Kotei who also urged to vote No, the reason being that, giving the politicians the power to control the system is disastrous.

According to Mr. Kotei, delegates role in “our political arena is dangerous and a threat to Ghana politics.”

Mr. Kyei-Baffour said MMDCEs cannot sue government because they were appointed by the President.

He said even delay of common fund is unconstitutional because the constitution says that after first quarter of the year, the fund must be released but those “who have the locus to go to court are the District Assemblies headed by the Chief Executives who were appointed by the President and so they cannot go to court to demand common fund.”

For this reason he said, “If they are elected and free from control of the President, they can go to court adding that, even common fund, Parliament is supposed to deterring the quantum of monies to be disbursed.

Mr. Kotei questioned the credibility of delegate conference saying the credibility of these delegates is questionable and for that matter I am running no campaign.

“To allow delegates even to vote is a disaster because we don’t trust delegates, describing their roles are bogus but Mr. Keyi-Baffour disagreed.”

BY ANIN AGYEI, NEW AFRICA DAILY NEWS, AFRICA CORRESPONDENT

www.newafricadailynews.com