Participants of DRIP Program Left Without Allowances Despite Released Funds

A recent four-day training program under Ghana DRIP initiative, organized through Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), has left participants frustrated and questioning the whereabouts of allocated funds. DRIP machine operators who attended the program report they were not provided sitting allowances, transportation reimbursements, or certificates of participation, raising concerns over transparency and accountability.

Contrary to claims by some MMDCEs that funds for the program are yet to be released, official documents reveal otherwise. A letter dated October 25, 2024, from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) Administrator indicates that funds were disbursed four months ago. According to the breakdown, GHS 500,000 per constituency was allocated, with GHS 320,000 earmarked for fuel and GHS 180,000 for allowances for staff and local coordinators.

Despite this, participants have yet to receive any of the allowances or support outlined in the budget. Sources within the program say they were informed the delays are due to a lack of funds, contradicting the evidence in the DACF letter.

This raises serious questions about the management of the DRIP funds at the district level. Where is the money? Has it been redirected, mismanaged, or delayed by bureaucratic inefficiencies?

Stakeholders are calling for immediate action from the DACF Administrator, the Regional Coordinating Councils, and other oversight bodies to investigate the matter and hold those responsible accountable.

For now, participants remain without evidence of their participation or the resources they were promised—leaving them disillusioned with a program meant to support and empower them.