Hot!
Increase District Common Fund by 40% – Dr Oduro Osae urges government
- /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Eric-Oduro-Osae1.jpeg&description=Increase District Common Fund by 40% – Dr Oduro Osae urges government', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Eric-Oduro-Osae1.jpeg&description=Increase District Common Fund by 40% – Dr Oduro Osae urges government', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
A Local Government Expert, Dr Eric Oduro Osae, is calling for a 40 per cent increment in the District Common Funds.He argues that there is a lack of scientific basis for the current 5 per cent rate proposed by the constitution, which he believes fails to meet development needs.
Speaking on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM, Dr Osae explained that the underperformance of the various assemblies stems from the financial challenges that most are facing.
“I think that if the Common Fund is raised to about 40% of total national revenue it will help because Article 252 of the Constitution sets only the lower limit and not the upper limit,” he said.
His comment comes on the back of assertions by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, that most assemblies within the capital are not performing.
During a meeting with some MMDCEs on Tuesday, Mr Quartey expressed disappointment with the state of affairs in the Greater Accra Region.
He also questioned the role of the Assemblies in curbing indiscipline and ensuring development.
But the Local Government expert insists allocating funds based on identified needs will ensure they are used for that purpose and not to address other issues.
“If government is not mobilising enough, then 5% of government revenue will definitely not be enough to finance development.
So it is a national conversation that we should have. “But I have always made a proposal that we should use a scientific base to calculate the development needs of the local government and transfer an amount equal to what they need to develop. “Because the not-less-than 5% figure that was fixed in the constitution for Common Fund has no scientific basis,” he emphasised.However, the Member of Parliament for Ho Central, Benjamin Komla Kpodo, disagrees.
He argues that the proposed increment will not yield any impact due to government’s lack of desire to decentralise local governance.“The constitution says a minimum of 5% then during President Kufuor’s time it was raised to 7.5 and then President Mahama continued with it.
But when this government came it brought it back to 5% and went ahead to cap it. “So you see that the desire for a centralized government which often initiates the decentralization process is to keep the money at the centre so they will have control.
They do not want the district assemblies to have control over their affairs,” he said.Meanwhile, the Director of the Institute of Local Government Studies, Nicholas Awortwi, says Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) will only be accountable to the public when they are elected.
“We have a situation where the Chief Executive who should have the power and be the representative of the people is rather a representative of the central government because the law makes the Chief Executive the representative of the central government and in that case, his allegiance and accountability are all up to the central government.
“If DCEs are elected, they will make themselves more relevant and accountable to the people and will do more than what they are doing now,” he said.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has disputed claims made on social media by comedian Michael Blackson concerning the treatment given to his late mother, saying a review found that the allegations did not accurately reflect what happened during her stay at the hospital.
In a statement issued in Accra on August 5, 2026, the management of UGMC expressed condolences to Mr. Blackson and his family over the death of his 83-year-old mother, who died at the facility on July 16, 2026.
The hospital said it had taken the concerns raised by Mr. Blackson seriously and conducted a thorough review in line with its clinical and administrative procedures.
According to the statement, the facts presented by Mr. Blackson on social media contained “numerous inaccuracies” and did not accurately reflect the medical care provided to his mother.
UGMC explained that she was referred to the facility from another hospital and received treatment there from May 27 to July 16, 2026, a period of about eight weeks.
The hospital stated that it would not release details of her diagnosis, treatment, medical records or other aspects of her care because it had a duty to protect patient confidentiality, even after death.
It said the decision was intended to respect the dignity of the deceased and the privacy of her family.
UGMC further stated that all clinical decisions at the facility are made by qualified healthcare professionals based on medical judgment, established standards of care and the best interests of the patient.
The statement added that such decisions are made in consultation with authorised family representatives where necessary and that billing and financial procedures are governed by institutional policies and are separate from clinical decision-making.
The hospital noted that it values feedback from patients and their families and considers both positive and negative comments important for improving the quality of care.
Mr. Blackson had earlier used social media to criticise the care his mother received at UGMC, prompting the hospital’s response.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has directed all aspirants campaigning in the Greater Accra Region to suspend their campaign activities on August 5 and 6 and instead mobilise supporters for the party’s planned “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration.
The directive was issued by the party’s National Steering Committee in a statement signed by the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the decision forms part of efforts to ensure a strong turnout for the demonstration, which is scheduled for Thursday, August 6, 2026.
The party said the protest would begin at 5:00 a.m., with participants expected to gather at the Supreme Court in Accra.
It further directed Regional, Constituency and Polling Station Executives in Greater Accra to work closely to mobilise members and supporters for the event.
“The National Steering Committee is calling on all aspirants currently campaigning across the Greater Accra Region to temporarily suspend their campaign activities on the 5th and 6th of August and join in mobilising support for the upcoming demonstration,” the statement noted.
The NPP appealed to party members and supporters to remain peaceful, disciplined and orderly throughout the protest.
The demonstration forms part of the party’s response to concerns it has raised over issues relating to Ghana’s democratic governance and the justice system.
The NPP leadership expressed confidence that party members would cooperate fully to ensure a successful and peaceful event.
By: Jacob Aggrey
