By Daniel Bampoe
Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has strongly criticized the government over what he describes as its failure to inject sufficient spending into the economy, arguing that the situation is a major factor behind the growing economic hardship faced by many Ghanaians.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, the outspoken lawmaker accused the administration of failing to stimulate economic activity through capital investment and development spending.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh made the remarks while seconding a motion during parliamentary proceedings and used the opportunity to highlight what he described as a troubling pattern of low government expenditure on projects that could stimulate growth and provide relief for struggling citizens.
According to him, the government’s reluctance to spend on key sectors of the economy has slowed development and contributed significantly to the financial strain currently being experienced by households and businesses.
The Minority Chief Whip argued that government spending plays a crucial role in driving economic activity, particularly through capital investments in infrastructure, public services, and community development.
However, he explained that despite available resources, capital investment levels remain far below expectations.
He told Parliament that this lack of spending has stalled projects and weakened economic momentum across the country.
To support his argument, Mr. Annoh-Dompreh pointed to delays in addressing statutory and constitutional funds that are meant to support development.
He noted that while Parliament had already approved funding formulas for key institutions such as the Ghana Education Trust Fund and the National Health Insurance Authority, the formula for the District Assemblies Common Fund remains unresolved, leaving local governments without the resources they need to function effectively.
According to the Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP, the consequences of these delays are being felt most strongly at the local level, where Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies depend heavily on the Common Fund to finance development projects. He told the House that assemblies across the country are “crying” due to the lack of funds, warning that the situation is affecting basic service delivery and slowing down grassroots development.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh therefore called on the Speaker of Parliament to issue firm directives to ensure the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund appears before the House to address the matter and facilitate the passage of the allocation formula.
He proposed that the official be summoned within the following parliamentary week to provide clarity on the delays and help restore the flow of funds to the assemblies.
He concluded that unless government significantly increases its spending on development and ensures the timely release of statutory funds, the economic hardship currently being experienced by citizens will continue.
In his view, stimulating the economy through targeted public investment remains one of the most effective ways to create jobs, revive business activity, and ease the burden on ordinary Ghanaians.
