The Government of Ghana and Switzerland have signed a CHF 12 million (about USD $14 million) grant agreement to support the implementation of the District Assemblies Common Fund Responsiveness Factor Grant (DACF-RFG).The DACF-RFG is a performance-based grant system designed to incentivize Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability in local governance.

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The landmark signing ceremony, held in Accra, was attended by Ghana’s Minister for Finance, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, the Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Simone Giger, and other key stakeholders.The grant seeks to strengthen decentralized governance, enhance accountability, and improve the delivery of essential services at the local level.

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Speaking at the event, Ghana’s Minister for Finance, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, expressed profound gratitude to the Swiss Government for its unwavering support of Ghana’s development agenda."Switzerland’s financial contribution of CHF 12 million to the DACF-RFG underscores the strong and enduring partnership between our two nations," the Minister noted.

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He highlighted Switzerland’s commitment to the DACF-RFG framework, describing it as, “a testament to her shared vision for sustainable development and effective decentralization in Ghana.”.Dr. Amin Adam acknowledged challenges such as delays in fund disbursement that have occasionally hindered the program’s effectiveness.

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However, he expressed optimism about the progress made and the commitment of stakeholders to addressing these issues.Swiss Ambassador Simone Giger emphasized that local governance and decentralization were key pillars of Switzerland’s cooperation with Ghana.

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"From my visit to some project sites in 12 regions of the country, it was clear citizens were direct beneficiaries of the support from the government of Switzerland, a situation she described as, ‘heart-warming’,” Ambassador Giger remarked.She commended Ghana for the judicious use of the DACF-RFG, highlighting its impact and reaffirming Switzerland’s commitment to the program’s success.

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