Dr. Zanetor Rawlings Pledges Strict Accountability for Common Fund | Discuss Ghana

On Thursday, March 26, 2026, the Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, issued a stern reminder on the need for fiscal discipline and proper procedure in the administration of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).

Speaking at the Grand Business Donation Initiative in Accra, Dr. Zanetor emphasized that the "National Reset" of Ghana's economy must start with how local resources are managed, regardless of which party is in power.

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The "Proper Procedure" Mandate

Dr. Zanetor's comments come amid a heated parliamentary debate over the non-allocation of Common Funds to key youth agencies for 2026. Her speech focused on three main pillars of accountability:

No More "Ad-Hoc" Spending: She argued that the Common Fund should not be used as a "petty cash" pot for political favors. "Whether in opposition or in power, we will make sure the proper procedure for the use of the common fund is taken," she stated, insisting that funds must follow the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936).

Transparency in Procurement: Referring to recent scandals involving high-value contracts given to small firms, the MP called for a return to competitive bidding at the district level to ensure value for money.

Direct Impact: She praised the newly launched Community Partners Fund (CPF), which aims to attract private and diaspora funding to complement the DACF, but warned that these new streams must be guarded with even stricter oversight to maintain public trust.

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DACF: The 2026 Fiscal Outlook

The MP’s call for "proper procedure" follows a major shift in how the Common Fund is being disbursed under the current administration:

Expenditure Category	Required Allocation (%)	Dr. Zanetor's Focus
Direct to Assemblies	80% (Mandated)	To spur local development.
Model Markets	25%	Supporting the 24-Hour Economy.
Education & Water	20% (Combined)	Building schools and boreholes.
Monitoring & Eval	7.5%	Ensuring "proper procedure" is followed.

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Honoring a Legacy of Accountability

Dr. Zanetor, who recently took over as the Chief Patron of the "Gathering of the Royals" (an initiative of the Agrihouse Foundation), noted that her fight for transparency is a continuation of the ideals of her father, Jerry John Rawlings.

Integrity over Privilege: She echoed the sentiment that "power without integrity is meaningless," especially when dealing with funds meant for the grassroots.

Youth Development: She joined the Minority's call to restore funding to the National Youth Authority (NYA) and Youth Employment Agency (YEA), which were bypassed in the 2026 DACF formula.

"Proper procedure is not a suggestion; it is the law. Our constituents deserve to see every cedi of the Common Fund working for them in the light of day." — Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.