Share this
Explosive Documents Vindicate Naa Torshie,Parliament, Donors, and Policy Records Confirm She Followed the Law, Protected the Public Purse
By:Justice Baffour Awuah//www.dailywatchgh.com
Fresh high-level correspondence emerging from the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) has dramatically shifted the ongoing national debate surrounding the District Assemblies Common Fund Responsiveness Factor Grant (RFG) under DPAT VI. The newly sighted documents decisively vindicate the DACF Administrator, Hon. Irene Naa Torshie Addo, proving that her actions were backed by parliamentary authority, donor positions, and established legal procedures,not personal discretion, delay, or neglect.
Far from obstructing development financing, the documents show that Naa Torshie was the only actor insisting on legality, accountability, and respect for Ghana’s democratic institutional processes.
Parliament Backed Her,Not the Ministry of Finance
A key revelation in the Administrator’s official response is the undeniable fact that Parliament had already approved the merger of DPAT VI and DPAT VII in the 2023 DACF formula. This was not a suggestion, not a proposal, not an internal memo,but a full parliamentary decision with the force of law.
Under Ghana’s constitutional arrangements, once Parliament approves the DACF formula, no minister, no agency, and no administrator has the authority to alter it. The formula becomes binding, and only Parliament can change it.
Therefore, Naa Torshie simply could not legally disburse separate funding for DPAT VI after the legislature had collapsed it into DPAT VII. Any attempt to do so would have amounted to an unlawful diversion of state resources,the very type of financial misconduct she has built a reputation for resisting.
Her letter pointedly but professionally reminds the Ministry of Finance of this legal reality, reinforcing her position as a public official committed to constitutional order, not political pressure.
DPAT VI Failed Before It Started and Not Because of DACF
The Administrator’s detailed exposition goes further to explain why DPAT VI collapsed in the first place, and the facts are striking:
KfW, the major donor, pulled out at the eleventh hour, leaving SECO as the sole development partner.
SECO’s contribution amounted to about 37 million cedis, while DACF was suddenly expected to contribute over 147 million cedis,more than 75% of the entire programme cost.
This expectation violated the agreement between DACF and Parliament that government’s contribution must not exceed 50%.
Faced with this exorbitant and unacceptable burden on the national purse, Parliament stepped in and halted the programme entirely,a decision that had nothing to do with Naa Torshie. These were donor-driven and Parliament-driven events beyond her control.
This single revelation completely neutralizes the narrative that she refused to release funds. The funds were not released because Parliament shut down the programme and the legal formula no longer provided for it.
History Silences the Critics,Naa Torshie Revived a Broken System
The DACF Administrator also gave crucial historical context that members of the public may not have known. The RFG programme originally involved five development partners, but several withdrew years ago due to misapplication of funds by the Ministry of Finance,not by the DACF.
This donor flight crippled the programme long before Naa Torshie assumed leadership.
It was under her watch, working closely with a former Local Government Minister, that:
DPAT III was revived
DPAT IV was implemented successfully
DPAT V followed without donor disputes
Her stewardship rebuilt donor confidence, restored credibility, and stabilized a programme that had collapsed.
These are not the achievements of a “delayer.”
These are the achievements of a reformer, protector of public funds, and a strong institution-builder.
Donors Stand With Her,Not Against Her
The Administrator further disclosed that the donors themselves are currently negotiating with DACF for a formal merger of DPAT VI and DPAT VII to ensure a smoother rollout going forward. This directly contradicts any suggestion that she was acting contrary to donor expectations.
Even more telling is that she invited the Minister of Finance to participate in one of these meetings. This invitation reflects a commitment to transparency, collaboration, and national interest,qualities that have defined her administrative style.
The Verdict: Naa Torshie Was Right All Along
The newly uncovered documents leave no ambiguity:
She followed the law.
She respected parliamentary authority.
She protected the Fund from illegal expenditure.
She managed donor relations with professionalism.
She ensured accountability in a politically charged environment.
The delays and complications surrounding DPAT VI were caused by donor withdrawal, unrealistic funding demands, and parliamentary directives, not by Irene Naa Torshie.
The facts have now exposed the truth:
The DACF Administrator acted with integrity, expertise, and unwavering commitment to Ghana’s decentralization agenda.
In a political season where misinformation spreads easily, this documentary evidence stands as a powerful vindication,and a reminder that strong institutions depend on principled leaders like Hon. Irene Naa Torshie Addo.
