The Auditor-General has cited nine assemblies in the Brong Ahafo Region that spent about GH¢500,000 of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund (DACF) on goods and services but cannot provide receipts.
The 2017 Auditor-General’s report has blamed the irregularity on poor supervision by the Finance Officers and has demanded that the District Coordinating Directors and Finance Officers at the assemblies refund the missing funds.
Meanwhile, the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee will from Monday begin probing the allegations of misappropriation of the DACF as contained in the 2017 Auditor-General’s report.
The DACF is a pool of resources created under Article 252 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. It is a minimum of 5% of the national revenue set aside to be shared among all District Assemblies in Ghana with a formula approved by Parliament.
The Fund is a Development Fund which enables the use of the nation’s wealth throughout Ghana for the benefit of all citizen.
Details of 2017 Auditor-General’s report on DACF in Brong Ahafo Region
According to the report, nine assemblies spent over GH¢500,000 on goods and services but failed to substantiate the payments with receipts, invoices and programme reports.
The Asunafo South District Assembly, for instance, spent GH¢213, 615 on tyres, building materials, food items and sanitation services.
The Jaman South District Assembly used GH¢19,943 of the Common Fund to support students.
The Nkoranza South Municipal Assembly expended GH¢45,400 on agricultural inputs and support to students.
Dormaa East District Assembly also spent GH¢16,160 of the District Assembly Common Fund on funeral donations and community meetings.
The Dormaa West used GH¢17,660 on reshaping of roads.
The Tano North District Assembly spent GH¢16,696 of the Common Fund on building materials, works on streetlights, educational support.
The Sunyani West District Assembly spent GH¢56,285 of District Assemblies Common Fund on food items, allowances, reshaping and installation of metres. It also used GH¢73,650 on building materials, musical instruments and fees.
The Tain, Banda and Wenchi municipal assemblies were also cited. The Wenchi Municipal Assembly spent GH¢43,558 the Fund on administrative expenses.
The Auditor-General blamed poor supervision on the part of the respective Finance Officers to ensure that these relevant documents were obtained before payments were made. The Auditor-General is recommending that the finance officers should refund the amounts accordingly.
MPs accused of misapplying Common Fund
Presiding Member of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) last week descended heavily on Parliamentarians for allegedly misapplying District Assembly Common Fund for election campaigns instead of on development projects.
Abraham Boadi wants state investigative institutions and the media to put a spotlight on the issue.
He revealed that Legislators receive about six tranches of funds for health, education and other commitments, but the money ends up in their personal accounts for political campaigns at the expense of the welfare of constituents.
Source: myjoyonline.com
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