The District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) has initiated a new mechanism to attract funding from new sources other than the traditional allocations from the central government.

Dubbed: ‘The Community Partners Fund (CPF)’, the initiative is designed to empower individuals, corporate organisations, and the Ghanaian diaspora to directly support community development projects.

The new initiative, which is to complement the fund’s traditional sources of financing, will enable individuals, corporate bodies, philanthropists, and people in the diaspora to contribute to development at the local levels of the country.

It is a transparent and credible platform through which citizens and institutions can contribute to sustainable development and measurable social and environmental outcomes across the country.

Speaking at the launch in Accra yesterday, the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), Mr Michael Harry Yamson, described the CPF as a bold step towards strengthening participatory governance and deepening decentralisation.

The launch, which coincided with his first anniversary in office, he said, marked a significant milestone in efforts to mobilise additional resources for local development.

Mr Yamson noted that although the DACF continued to play a critical role in supporting infrastructure such as schools, health facilities, water systems, sanitation services, and roads, increasing development demands and limited resources had created a funding gap.

“With a growing population and competing national priorities, it is evident that government alone cannot fully meet the development needs of our communities. The CPF is, therefore, a strategic response to broaden the resource base and foster stronger partnerships,” he stated.

He explained that the CPF is a voluntary, incentive-driven financing mechanism that seeks contributions from individuals, private sector entities, development partners, philanthropists, and Ghanaians living abroad.

According to him, the initiative did not replace statutory DACF allocations but rather complements them by providing additional funding to support priority projects at the local level.

“The CPF is not creating a new institution. It is an enhancement of the existing framework to ensure that communities receive the resources they need to thrive,” he emphasised.

Mr Yamson outlined four key objectives of the fund, including promoting community development, enhancing private sector participation, providing tax incentives for contributors, and ensuring transparency and accountability.

He disclosed that contributions to the CPF would be recognised as allowable expenses under tax laws, with contributors receiving official digital certificates for tax purposes.

To ensure efficiency and accountability, he stated that a secure web-based platform had been developed to manage contributions and track project implementation in real time.

“The platform guarantees end-to-end transparency, from the point of contribution to project completion. Contributors will have access to dashboards and reports that show exactly how their funds are being utilised,” he added.

Furthermore, Mr Yamson called on all stakeholders, including corporate bodies, civil society organisations, and the diaspora, to support the initiative and contribute towards national development.

“The future of our communities lies in our ability to work together. If we want to go far, we must go together,” he mentioned.

He said the initiative formed part of broader efforts to promote inclusive growth and ensure that development reached all parts of the country.

The Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education, Kathleen Addy, in her remarks said the launch of the Community Partner’s Fund marked a new era of partnership and innovation, providing an opportunity for global entities to thrive.

She emphasised that the fund would accelerate development, mobilising additional resources beyond traditional government allocations, and create a conducive environment for growth.

Some of the Municipal Chief Executives and District Chief Executives who attended the programme commended the DACF for the initiative and described it as a novelty.