The Member of Parliament for Tatale-Sanguli in the Northern Region, Tampi Simon Acheampong has bemoaned the untimely release of the Districts Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), saying its hampering developmental efforts in his constituency.

According to him his constituency which is highly deprived relies on the common fund for its developmental projects but the delay in releasing it, is affecting the progress of the constituency.

Speaking with this reporter, Mr. Tampi decried the manner the fund has been abused by government, stating “It is incumbent on the government to make timely release of the DACF to speed up projects in the various districts across the country”.

The DACF 2018 has for some time now being a subject of controversy, as the minority in parliament recently raised red flags over its disbursement.

The capped fund amounting to GHC905, 999,982.00 received a parliamentary approval in March for disbursement to the 254 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the country.

But the minority claimed that a directive by the government to use a substantial part of the fund to implement programs such as the School Feeding Program, the Nation Builders Corps, Planting for Food and Jobs is unconstitutional.

Mr. Tampi called on the government to as a matter of urgency to remove the bottlenecks surrounding the fund and speed up its release to help in the acceleration of projects in the various constituencies and districts. Touching on other challenges confronting his constituency, Tampi said post-harvest losses of farm produce is another huge challenge since access to farms to cart food produce to the markets are non-existent.

The MP said his constituency is a predominant farming area but due to lack of access roads most of the farm products end up being destroyed causing huge losses to the farmers.

He appealed to the authorities to fix the feeder roads and make it more accessible to his people, adding “we need about 85% road upgrades of our feeder roads”.

Tampi also called for more health facilities since infant mortality in the constituency is on the rise, saying he is in constant touch with the health authorities to reduce the infant mortality rate.

The MP also appealed for electricity extension to more communities in his area, adding that the constituency has only about 30% electricity coverage.

On his achievements so far, Mr. Tampi said even though he is a first time MP, he has supported schools in the constituency by providing additional infrastructure, helping upgrade existing educational facilities and providing portable water to reduce the acute water shortage in the area.