Mr. Francis Asenso Boakye contends that the guideline to the Metropolitan , Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) is a violation of the 1992 Constitution and the local government framework.

He said the Constitution and the Local Government Act are explicit on the DACF and states "utilization guidelines must be issued by the Minister of Local Government, Chieftency and Religious Affairs in consultation with the Minister of Finance after the administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund presented a formula and after parliament has approved that formula".

Unfortunately, he said none of these mandatory steps have been satisfied, and yet the finance minister has gone ahead in the budget to give utilization guidelines and has unilaterally prescribed how MMDAS should use their funds.

In effect, he said, if this is allowed to stand, then parliament would be joining the finance minister to breach and undermine the Constitution and the Local Government Act.

He said Parliament that is clothed with the power to protect and safeguard our constitution cannot be seen violating it.

He further added that the development weakens the philosophy of decentralization, because decentralization is to give power to the MMDAs to make their own decisions, identify their priorities and plan for their own development.

He emphasized that allowing the finance minister to dictate to the MMDAs amounts to centralization, so it must not be allowed to stand.