The Member of Parliament for Kintampo North, Mr. Joseph Kwame Kumah, has praised the John Dramani Mahama administration for the consistent and timely release of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), stating that the financial discipline is accelerating development in his constituency.
Contributing to the parliamentary debate on the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA), Mr. Kumah noted that the era of frequent delays in funding—which previously crippled projects and left contractors unpaid—is now a thing of the past.
According to the MP, the predictable flow of funds has enabled his assembly to effectively plan and execute several “quick-win” projects, particularly in the critical sectors of education, health, and sanitation.
“Kintampo North is a major transit hub, and maintaining our local infrastructure is vital. I must commend the government and the Administrator of the Common Fund for ensuring these allocations reach us on time,” Mr. Kumah stated on the floor of Parliament.
“This promptness allows the Assemblies to plan effectively and ensures contractors are paid promptly, which prevents the government from accumulating unnecessary interest on delayed payments,” he added.
Contrasting Records on Education and Health
The Kintampo North lawmaker used the opportunity to draw a sharp contrast between the current administration’s performance and that of the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
He criticized the former government for what he described as a failure to adequately fund the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), an oversight he argued negatively impacted students’ performance. He further highlighted persistent delays in claims processing under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) during the NPP’s tenure, assuring that the current government is committed to ensuring the Scheme functions effectively.
Call for Increased Allocation
While commending the government’s performance, Mr. Kumah also made a forward-looking appeal, urging the Ministry of Finance and the Common Fund Administrator to consider an upward review of the DACF percentage in future budgets.
He argued that an increase is necessary to help districts meet the growing demands placed on them by rapidly increasing populations.
The debate on the President’s SONA continues in the chamber, with Members of Parliament scrutinizing the government’s policies and performance over the last year.
