Why Oppong Nkrumah thinks MDAs should justify access to public funds

The Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, is championing a private member’s bill to require Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as local government units, to provide certified development plans before accessing public funds.

Oppong Nkrumah, also Ranking Member for the Economy and Development Committee of Parliament, believes the legislative move will strengthen fiscal discipline and national development alignment.

The Public Financial Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025 seeks to amend the existing Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), by making it illegal for the Ministry of Finance, the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), or any other statutory fund manager to approve the release of funds—whether from the Consolidated Fund, Internally Generated Funds (IGFs), or statutory allocations—to entities that lack a certified medium-term development plan.

Social and public policy advocate, Oliver Barker-Vormawor believes the proposal is a fantastic one and took to Facebook to commend Oppong Nkrumah.

“This is an interesting piece of legislative proposal. There are of course constitutional questions raised as to Parliament’s power to delay release of constitutional funds.

“But if this was a Government Bill, I don’t see our courts overturning it. They would actually hold that it improves accountable governance. Same philosophy should hold even for private member Bills.

“Kudos to Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah for this!!”

Tying funds to development plans

According to the proposed amendment, all MDAs and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) must obtain certification from the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) for their development plans as a prerequisite for budgetary disbursement.

This certification requirement would apply across all sources of public financing and is aimed at reinforcing Section 21(5) of Act 921 while expanding its operational scope.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah explained that the measure is designed to protect the public purse by ensuring that every pesewa of taxpayer money is spent in line with nationally coherent priorities.

“It is unacceptable that in practice, entities prepare budgets and receive funding without coherent or certified development plans. This leads to fragmentation, duplication, and outright waste,” he said.

The proposal draws strength from Articles 86 and 87 of the 1992 Constitution, which mandate the NDPC to coordinate national development planning.

Additionally, the NDPC’s role is operationalised by several statutes and legislative instruments, including Acts 479 and 480, L.I. 2232, and L.I. 2402.

The NDPC works with Cross-Sectoral Planning Groups (CSPGs) to craft the Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework, from which all sectoral and district plans must derive.

These, in turn, constitute the National Medium-Term Development Plan, the ultimate roadmap for Ghana’s development agenda.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah’s bill is underpinned by four core objectives:

1. Legally tying budget preparation and execution to NDPC-certified development plans.
2. Eliminating ad-hoc and misaligned spending at all levels of government.
3. Establishing clear administrative sanctions for public officers who breach the rule.
4. Enhancing overall policy coherence and fiscal responsibility.

The MP notes that this amendment will compel public institutions to adhere strictly to national development goals, ensuring that financial resources are only deployed for vetted and strategic initiatives.

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.