DDP WITHDRAWALS: GOVERNMENT SAYS “SHOW THE EVIDENCE” BEFORE CALLING IT CORRUPTION

APIA, SAMOA — Wednesday, 12 August 2026

The Government of Samoa has responded to growing scrutiny over withdrawals from District Development Programme (DDP) accounts, saying public money must be accounted for, but withdrawals alone should not be characterised as corruption without evidence.

The statement follows recent media reporting and public discussion surrounding significant withdrawals from individual district accounts.

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Government says the important question is not simply how much money was withdrawn, but whether the expenditure was authorised, used for an approved purpose, supported by beneficiary and payment records, properly reconciled and subjected to financial reporting and audit requirements.

“The mere withdrawal of funds from a district bank account is therefore not, by itself, evidence that money has been stolen or corruptly used,” Government said.

For the 2025/26 programme, Parliament approved $91.8 million for Samoa’s 51 districts, with allocations subject to approved plans, budgets and accountability requirements.

Government says a significant component of district expenditure during the period was its $150 Back-to-School Assistance Programme, which was delivered to eligible Samoans through district structures.

However, Government has not dismissed calls for scrutiny.

District Councils remain responsible for accounting for public funds, and Government says any expenditure that cannot be satisfactorily supported should be investigated through the appropriate financial and legal processes.

Government also rejected suggestions that the recent International Monetary Fund Article IV consultation found corruption or misuse of DDP funds.

According to Government, the IMF instead called for improvements in areas including project appraisal, procurement, implementation, monitoring, transparency and accountability.

The Government says it is addressing these concerns through stronger monitoring, revised operating manuals and a new District Development framework.

The issue now comes down to the records behind the withdrawals.

Who authorised the money? What was it spent on? Who received it? And is there documentation to account for every tala?

If those records support the expenditure, they provide the necessary explanation. If they do not, further investigation would be justified.

Government's message to the current public debate is therefore straightforward: scrutinise public spending and hold officials accountable but establish the full facts before allegations of corruption are presented as fact.

As Government concluded:

“Development must reach the people and every tala spent for the people must be properly accounted for.”

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