Government Tasked To Expedite Action On Release Of DACF

Government has been asked to release the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) to the Assemblies on time for the speedy development of the various areas. Mr. Philip Nantee Laari, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo, who made the appeal in Tamale on Friday, said some of districts in the Northern Region were faced with numerous challenges. Mr Laari was speaking at the swearing-in ceremony for four DCEs, (including him), who were recently confirmed by their respective districts after being nominated by the President. Mr. Laari, DCE for Bunkpurugu/Yanyo, Mr. Issah Zakaria, DCE for Yendi Municipality, Mr. Sulemana Hussein Issah, DCE for Karaga, and Mr. Dramani Isaac, DCE for Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, swore the oaths of office, secrecy and allegiance. Mr. Laari said that the four districts were faced with problems including bad roads, youth unemployment, lack of potable water and inadequate health and educational facilities. He stressed that Government should speed up the release of the Fund so that the assemblies could solve problems to facilitate the 'Better Ghana' agenda. Mr. Laari commended the President and the assemblies for entrusting in them the responsibility of administering the various districts. "We in these districts have had very similar challenges bothering on security, chieftaincy, land and political disputes, road network, inadequate infrastructure", he stressed. Mr. Laari said peace had returned to the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo area after the occurrence of protracted disputes. He said: "The major actors in the earlier unending political conflicts had just smocked the peace pipe and had symbolically cut a cake to signify the end of all disputes in the district". Mr. Moses Bukari Mabengba, Northern Regional Minister, advised the new DCEs "You are supposed to lead the assemblies and use the human and material resources to implement programmes for the development of the people". He asked them to collaborate with staff of the assembly towards the development of the areas. Mr. Mabengba also said: "The relationship you build with the traditional authorities, heads of departments, colleagues, past executives and the general public will equally be importance to the successes of your administration". He called on the assemblies to educate the people on the need to pay taxes regularly and promptly to improve upon efforts at generating internal funds. Mr. San Nasamu Asabigi, Deputy Northern Regional Minister, asked the DCEs to justify the confidence reposed in them by the President and assemblies by working hard to meet the aspirations of the people. Justice Lawrence Ladzagla Mensah, a Supervising High Court Judge, swore the DCEs into office and they were given letters of instrument of appointment.