Abstract:
The District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) is an important
component of the operationalisation of the decentralisation agenda in Ghana.
Over the years, the fund has increasingly become the main source of funds for
the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs). The effect of
the fund on the development of the Tano-South District Assembly is the focus
of this study. Using both primary and secondary data, the effect of the fund on
socio-economic development is studied. The key finding of the study is that
the Fund has had a positive effect on the socio-economic development of the
District. Other findings include; delay in disbursement of funds from the
central government, the decline of IGFs by the assembly as a percentage of
total revenue, low participation of citizens in the choice of projects the fund
should be used for. Also, there is a lot of deduction at source so the funds that
finally get to the assembly is inadequate to effect the needed change. The
study recommends that IGF mobilisation should be improved, there should be
a timely disbursement of funds and local participation in the decision making
processes of the assembly should be strengthened.
