Assembly Members to Receive Allowances as Mahama Fulfills Campaign Vow
President John Dramani Mahama has taken a significant step towards fulfilling his electoral promise by directing the payment of allowances to assembly members.
Through a press release issued by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Mahama has instructed all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and District Chief Executives (DCEs) to submit the names of assembly members to their respective Regional Ministers by the end of next week.
This crucial step will facilitate the processing and disbursement of the allowances, underscoring Mahama’s commitment to honoring his pledge.
The Ministry of Finance has already demonstrated its support for this initiative by allocating GH¢100 million towards the payment of these allowances, as announced by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson during the presentation of the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament.
Although the exact amount each assembly member will receive and the commencement date for the payments have not been specified, this allocation marks a vital milestone in the implementation of Mahama’s promise.
Dr. Ato Forson revealed that the 2025 budget includes an allocation of GH¢7.51 billion to the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF), with a proposal to directly channel a significant portion of these funds to district assemblies. This move aims to drive economic growth at the district level and deepen decentralization.
Dr. Forson noted, “In accordance with our decentralization policy objective, we propose to Parliament that a minimum of 80% of the funds should be sent directly to the district assemblies to spur economic growth at the district level and deepen decentralization.”
He emphasized that this approach starkly contrasts with recent practices, where less than 50% of the released DACF funds actually reached the district assemblies, with a substantial portion being expended at the central level.
During his presidential campaign, Mahama recognized the pivotal role of local governance and stressed the need for financial support to empower assembly members to effectively discharge their duties.
He also pledged to increase the DACF disbursement from 5% to 7%, demonstrating his commitment to strengthening local governance and development. John Dramami mahama taking concrete steps to fulfill this promises give credence that he is working to ensure that assembly members are adequately supported to drive meaningful development in their respective districts.