Omanghana
Northern Regional Minister Ali Adolf John has commended Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson for improving the release of the District Assemblies Common Fund, saying the increased flow of resources is helping local authorities address their financial constraints.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement in Tamale on Friday, October 9, 2026, the Regional Minister said Dr. Forson had “performed wonders” through the pace and scale of disbursements to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.
The meeting focused on the 2025 Auditor-General’s Report and brought together regional ministers from the Northern, Savannah, North East, Upper West, Oti and Upper East regions. Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives and Coordinating Directors also attended.
Ali Adolf John credited the Finance Minister with easing funding bottlenecks under the Mahama administration, giving assemblies greater financial support to carry out their responsibilities.
Dr. Forson, however, stressed that improved access to funding must be accompanied by stronger accountability. He warned that Ghana could no longer afford waste in the management of public resources and urged local officials to ensure expenditure delivers measurable benefits.
“Every cedi has a job,” the Finance Minister said, emphasizing that government allocations must translate into essential infrastructure and services, including schools, clinics, roads and drainage systems.
He noted that failures to collect public revenue or spend funds properly deprive communities of services, with vulnerable residents bearing the consequences.
The Finance Minister called on assembly chief executives and coordinating directors to take audit findings seriously and act on recommendations. He urged them to recover mismanaged funds and address weaknesses in financial controls to prevent further losses.
The engagement highlighted the responsibility of local authorities to match improved funding with sound financial management, ensuring that resources released for development reach the communities they are intended to serve.
Source: Omanghana
