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The government has paid nearly GH�59 million to clear the second quarter allowances to all 216 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs). The amount also included the two per cent disability fund allocated to the Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD) to support the estimated two million physically challenged persons. Giving details, the Head of the Local Government Service, Dr Callistus Mahama, said the money was released by the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) secretariat. Dr Mahama explained that the money was distributed based on four considerations; service pressure based on population, level of depravity, responsiveness (ability to generate internal revenue) and equality, Ghana�s 216 assemblies are made up of six metropolitan, 55 municipal and 155 districts. Who gets more On the basis of equality, all the assemblies were given 50 per cent of the money, Dr Mahama stated. Other factors, however, made some assemblies to get more. Arguably, Ghana�s capital, managed by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) with a population of 2.5 million, may get more on the basis of service pressure based on population. Interestingly, however, the AMA comparatively has the capacity to generate more funds than any other assembly based on the fact that it is the national capital, and therefore, host virtually all the big local and foreign companies. Dr Mahama said assemblies that are on deprived areas were also required to plough more from the fund to help in their development activities. Among others, it also aims at helping the assemblies to improve housing, sanitation management, healthcare delivery and education. Funds released earlier The DACF fund is released in four tranches The government released the fourth quarter for last year in April, this year, and the first quarter was paid early in September. Dr Mahama explained that it was structured in such a way that the fourth quarter of the release was paid the following year. Besides the releases from the DACF, the Ministry of Finance also released the first quarter direct departmental transfer to district assemblies in June this year.