Accra, Ghana – The government has guaranteed the direct disbursement of approximately GH¢6.1 billion out of a total GH¢7.57 billion earmarked for 2025, specifically to stimulate local economic activities at the district level. President Mahama’s Cabinet has approved comprehensive guidelines to ensure the prudent and accountable utilization of these substantial funds across the country’s District Assemblies, signaling a renewed focus on grassroots development initiatives.
The newly approved guidelines dictate how these funds will be allocated. Twenty-five percent is designated for the design and construction of 24-Hour Economy Model Markets, while 10% each is set aside for building health facilities (including a minimum of two CHPS compounds per Assembly), constructing educational facilities (one Kindergarten, one primary, and one Junior High School block), and providing potable water, with a minimum of 10 boreholes for rural assemblies. An additional 10% is allocated for environmental sanitation, another 10% for school furniture, and 5% for the administration, monitoring, and evaluation of the Assemblies. Notably, a significant 20% has been allocated to complete abandoned legacy projects, including numerous uncompleted structures left by the Middle Belt, Coastal, and Northern Development Authorities. As a first step, GH¢987,965,073.00 has already been transferred from the Consolidated Fund into the District Assembly Common Fund Account for the first quarter.
Beyond district-level funding, the government has also reported prompt and full transfers to other critical statutory funds. The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) has received GH¢2,033,469,607 for the period covering January to March 2025. This timely disbursement has enabled the National Health Insurance Scheme to settle arrears owed to healthcare providers and to advance the implementation of the Free Primary Healthcare and Ghana Medical Care Trust programme, colloquially known as ‘Mahama Care.
Similarly, the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has received a total of GH¢2,710,227,947 for the months of January, February, March, and April 2025. This funding ensures that, as announced in the 2025 Budget, the Free Senior High School Programme is now fully covered under the GETFund. Consequently, challenges that previously hindered the smooth implementation of the program, such as issues with feeding, are reported to have been resolved, indicating a more stable financial footing for key social interventions.
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