Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Mahama Ayariga announced today that he will remove from the District Performance Assessment Tool (DPAT) the clause that rewards Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies for holding statutory meetings.
Under the current DPAT framework, assemblies must convene three statutory meetings each year as part of the conditions assessed for access to funding. Ayariga said the requirement is a legal duty and should not be tied to financial incentives.
Speaking at a breakfast meeting with development partners, heads of departments and agencies of the Ministry in Accra, Ayariga questioned the rationale for providing additional funding to assemblies for duties already mandated by law. He stated, “Why are you happy with the one about the President nominating you and the Assembly approving you? And yet the one that says that you hold meetings three times a year, that one, you are not happy about it and you won’t do it.”
The minister added that he would remove the provision from the DPAT system and warned that officials who fail to organise the required meetings could face administrative consequences, including having their names submitted to the President for consideration.
The breakfast meeting, held on Wednesday, September 30, carried the theme “Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Local Government and Inclusive Development.”
Observers note that the move could streamline funding criteria but may also increase pressure on assembly officials to comply with statutory meeting schedules without additional financial support.
