MINORITY ACCUSES GOVERNMENT OF UNCONSTITUTIONAL POWER GRAB IN 2026 BUDGET
Francis Asenso-Boakye alleges the finance ministry is illegally dictating how local assemblies must spend their funds, undermining the core principle of decentralization.
The Minority in Parliament has launched a sharp critique against the government, accusing it of violating the Constitution and the Local Governance Act through its handling of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) in the 2026 Budget.
The Ranking Member of the Local Government and Rural Development Committee, Francis Asenso-Boakye, argued in Parliament that the government is illegally prescribing how the DACF must be used before Parliament has even approved the fund’s allocation formula.
He stated that the law requires the Ministry of Local Government, in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, to issue spending guidelines only after Parliament approves the DACF Formula. By pre-empting this process, Asenso-Boakye contended, the government is acting outside its legal mandate.
“The District Assemblies Common Fund exists to empower local communities to determine their own development priorities. This Budget seeks to dictate how those priorities should be funded, effectively removing local discretion,” Asenso-Boakye stated.
He highlighted a recent cabinet-approved proposal by the Finance Minister that would allocate the fund as follows:
- 24-hour economy – 25%
- Health facilities – 10%
- Educational facilities – 10%
- Potable water – 10%
- School Furniture – 10%
- Administration – 7.5%
According to the Ranking Member, this top-down approach centralizes decision-making and guts the autonomy of local assemblies, destabilizing the entire structure of decentralized governance.
He warned that if Parliament allows this to stand, it would be complicit in a constitutional breach, handing the Finance Minister the power to dictate how constitutionally guaranteed local resources are spent.
“When local assemblies are stripped of the authority to allocate funds according to local needs, development becomes top-down, and the intended benefits of decentralization are lost,” Asenso-Boakye added.
He concluded with an appeal to the House to uphold its constitutional duty, protect the autonomy of local assemblies, and ensure the DACF serves the people directly, rather than the political priorities of the central government.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
