National Democratic Congress (NDC) has threatened to challenge the Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic party (NPP) government in law court for cutting down statutory payment to the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) in the 2017 budget.
Addressing a crowded press conference in Accra Wednesday, April 12, National Chairman of the party, Dr. Kofi Portuphy, stated that the decision by the government to cut down statutory payment of DACF was a clear violation of Article 252 Section (2) of the 1992 Constitution, which states that at least 5% of annual government revenue be ceded to the Fund.
In the 2017 budget, he noted that, GHC 34 billion is the total revenue expectation. And when you work the 5% out it is GHC1.7 billion.
But, according to him, the government is ceding GHC1.5 billion to the Metropolitan, Municipal Chief Executives and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), adding that that is a direct contravention of the constitution of Ghana.
He said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s decision to reduce the DACF contradicts his own promise to uphold the dictates of the constitution when he took his oath on January 7, 2017.
“This is constitutional lawlessness by those who claim to be the apostles of the rule of law. As already indicated by the Minority in Parliament, we will proceed to the courts to defend the constitution on this matter,” he warned.
Fuming with anger, Dr. Portuphy condemned the decision by President Akufo-Addo to force or sack all public officers who had served under former President John Dramani Mahama.
He alleged that the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Abdul Nashiru Issahaku, was forced to resign by the NPP administration led by President Akufo-Addo.
According to him, the NPP after it assumed office in January 2017 has forced several professional public servants to resign in order to fill the positions with NPP loyalists.
“Since the assumption of office, the Akufo-Addo administration has forced several professional public servants out of their offices, and replaced them with loyalist party members.
“… a typical example is the manner in which the Governor of Bank of Ghana has been prevented from completing his term of office and has been forced to resign prematurely,” Dr. Portuphy said.
He mentioned that some industry players had said they suspected there was more to the resignation yet could not give details.
The NDC chairman was emphatic that the governor was forced to resign by the incumbent government, as part of efforts to remove heads of various government institutions who worked under the Mahama government.
Dr. Portuphy noted that from the look of the things, there was a clear indication that President Akufo-Addo “cannot rule Ghana,” saying we are optimistic that the NDC would surely come to power in 2020.”
