Every district assembly in the Upper East Region will receive at least GH₵10 million from the 2026 District Assemblies Common Fund, with Pusiga getting the highest allocation of GH₵17 million, a ruling party official said.
Jonathan Abdallah Salifu, Upper East Regional Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress, said the allocations represent a dramatic increase from the previous administration, when the highest-receiving district got about GH₵2 million annually.
“No district assembly in the Upper East Region will get less than 10 million Ghana cedis. That would be the minimum,” Mr. Salifu told A1 Radio. “And the highest is 17 million, and that is Pusiga. The rest are between 10 and 17.”
The GH₵17 million allocation could fund construction of 15 to 20 school blocks, based on current costs of about GH₵600,000 per block, Salifu said. However, the funds must follow a prescribed formula covering multiple priorities.
“We have the 24-hour markets, which must be built from it. We have school blocks. We have CHPS compounds with accommodation. We have teachers’ quarters and all that,” he said.
President John Dramani Mahama has mandated specific development targets from the common fund allocations.
“Even in his first term, he used to say that from the common fund, you needed to build two schools, two CHPS compounds from it. Now he’s repeating the same,” Mr. Salifu said. “And that is what will bring development to the doorstep of the ordinary man.”
The increased funding aligns with government policy to channel 80% of the District Assemblies Common Fund directly to local governments, up from previous allocations. The fund includes designated percentages for 24-hour economy markets, continuing abandoned projects, sanitation, and government operations.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson presented the 2026 budget to Parliament on Thursday. Government officials have emphasized that strengthening local economies through district assembly funding is central to the administration’s development strategy.
“I am so happy with the 2026 budget,” Mr. Salifu said.
Source: a1radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Bolgatanga
