Local Gov’t Minister orders Ayawaso Central Assembly to account for GH¢400,000 disability fund

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has directed the Ayawaso Central Municipal Assembly to submit detailed records on the utilization of more than GH¢400,000 allocated to persons with disabilities (PWDs) after officials were unable to immediately account for the expenditure during a monitoring exercise.

The directive was issued during a ministerial inspection tour of selected assemblies in the Greater Accra Region aimed at assessing the management and utilization of funds disbursed through the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).

The monitoring exercise, conducted on June 10, 2026, covered the Ayawaso West, Ayawaso North, Ayawaso Central, and Ayawaso East municipal assemblies.

A key focus of the exercise was the mandatory allocation of three percent of the District Assemblies Common Fund to support persons with disabilities.

During the visit to Ayawaso Central, the minister expressed concern after officials were unable to provide comprehensive documentation detailing how funds allocated for disability-related interventions had been utilized.

According to preliminary information presented during the inspection, the assembly had received more than GH¢400,000 under the disability fund but had reportedly disbursed only about GH¢126,000.

Addressing assembly officials, Mr. Ibrahim questioned why a significant portion of the funds remained unspent and instructed the assembly’s finance officer to provide complete records for review by June 12, 2026.

“The President has given you money for persons with disabilities. You have received it and disbursed it for them. Shouldn't it be easier for you to account for how much you received and how it was spent?” the minister asked.

He noted that if only GH¢126,000 had been utilized, it was important to establish the status of the remaining balance and ensure the funds were being managed in accordance with the law and government guidelines.

The minister emphasized that the exercise was not intended to target any particular assembly but formed part of a broader effort to strengthen transparency, accountability, and discipline in the management of public resources across Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

According to him, local government officials have a collective responsibility to ensure proper management of public funds.

“Going forward, all MMDAs are going to sit up. Coordinating directors, municipal finance officers, budget officers, and social welfare officers must all take responsibility because accountability is a collective duty,” he stated.

Mr. Ibrahim further warned that public officials who fail to perform their duties effectively could face consequences under existing administrative regulations.

Responding to concerns raised during the inspection, the Municipal Chief Executive for Ayawaso Central, Rudolph Collingwoode-Williams, clarified that the unspent portion of the disability fund had not been misappropriated.

According to him, the remaining funds are still held in the assembly’s dedicated PWD account and are awaiting disbursement following the completion of an ongoing beneficiary vetting process.

He explained that while approximately GH¢126,000 has already been distributed, further assessments are being conducted to ensure that only qualified beneficiaries receive support.

“The money is sitting in the account, which we clearly showed to the minister when he requested the balance. There is no way the money can be spent on any other purpose because it is specifically intended for persons with disabilities,” he said.

The MCE added that the minister was informed about the ongoing vetting process and was shown records indicating the current balance in the account.

Meanwhile, Ayawaso East Member of Parliament, Baba Jamal, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention to improve transparency and accountability in local governance.

According to him, the exercise reflects the government's commitment to ensuring public officials are held accountable for the management of public resources and contribute effectively to national development.

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs says similar monitoring exercises will continue across the country as part of efforts to promote prudent financial management and ensure that funds allocated to vulnerable groups are used for their intended purposes.

The inspections are expected to strengthen oversight mechanisms and improve accountability within local government institutions nationwide.