The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has commissioned a fleet of 2,240 road maintenance equipment, as part of the ambitious District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP).
All the 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) will have a set of equipment to improve their roads.
As The Chronicle had earlier reported, the equipment include motor graders, backhoes, rollers, wheel loaders, bulldozers, tipper trucks, concrete mixers, water tankers and low beds.
These machines are expected to play a crucial role in the nationwide improvement of road infrastructure.
President Akufo-Addo commissioned the equipment, which were displayed at the Black Star Square in Accra, on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
DRIP
The District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), which was launched on Wednesday, is a significant move towards bolstering Ghana’s road infrastructure.
President Akufo-Addo, in his address, remarked that the initiative marks a pivotal milestone in the government’s ongoing efforts to decentralise development and improve the quality of life for Ghanaians.
The DRIP is designed to empower MMDAs with the necessary resources and equipment to rehabilitate and maintain roads within their areas and align with the government’s commitment to decentralisation, providing local authorities with the tools to effect meaningful change.
A four-member committee at each MMDA will oversee the implementation of the programme, ensuring high standards of quality and accountability.
The committees will include technical officers from the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development and the Ministry of Roads and Highways, along with a representative from the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) will chair these committees.
The President, in his address, highlighted the job creation potential of the DRIP, projecting the creation of 10,000 jobs for mechanics, engineers and artisans.
COLLABORATION
President Akufo-Addo called for a collaborative approach to the success of the DRIP by urging MMDCEs to adhere to the operational manual issued by supervising ministries and stakeholders, ensuring proper use and maintenance of the equipment.
He also called on the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development to establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track progress and ensure accountability.
ACHIEVEMENT
The President noted that from 2017 to December 2023, his administration completed 12,830 kilometers of roads and added six interchanges.
This, he said, was a significant increase compared to the 4,636 kilometers and five interchanges completed during the Mills/Mahama era from 2009 to 2016.
Current projects include ten new interchanges, with five expected to be completed by the end of the year and five more by 2025.
DEDICATION
The Minister for Roads and Highways, Francis Asenso Boakye, noted that the programme demonstrates the government’s dedication to building a robust infrastructure that drives growth and prosperity.
He opined that the DRIP initiative ensures that no region is left behind, as the impact of poor roads in rural areas cannot be overstated with regards to development. He urged all stakeholders to embrace the programme as a collective effort.
“Enhancing our district road network is crucial for connecting communities, facilitating trade and ensuring access to essential services,” the minister noted.
He stated that through DRIP-24, “we aim to create safer, more efficient roads that will significantly boost local economies and improve citizens’ quality of life.”
On his part, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development highlighted that improved roads facilitate efficient service delivery, enhanced connectivity and promoted mobility of people and goods.
However, the Minister noted that the biggest threat to the programme’s success is poor maintenance. But added that to address the issue, a maintenance component has been added to the programme.
MASSIVE UPGRADE
The Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), Irene Naa Torshie Addo-Lartey, the brain behind the initiative, said the government was “confident that we will see massive upgrading of the road infrastructure, which will in turn boost local businesses, improve accessibility and stimulate regional economies, among others.”
She said that investing in the capacities of MMDAs has become crucial for sustainable development and progress at the district level and the country as a whole.
She opined that as the government empowers the MMDAs to improve road infrastructure, it is not only improving the lives of their constituents but also creating more resilient and self-sufficient communities to promote local economic development.
SUSTAINABILITY
The Executive Chairman of Jospong Group, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, explained that J.A. Plant Pool, a member of the Jospong Group’s involvement in the DRIP programme, encompasses a comprehensive suite of services and the sustainability of the project.
He said that the company aims to continue to facilitate seamless project execution and long-term sustainability.
He acknowledged that the DRIP programme promises a remarkable increase in infrastructural development, which is critical in facilitating better access to markets, reducing wastage, enhancing profitability of agricultural activities and also creating sustainable jobs.
Mr. Zeng Guang’an, Chairman and CEO of Guanxi LiuGong Machinery Company Limited, the company that manufactured the equipment but assembled it here in Ghana, announced the establishment of 16 service centers across the country to provide after-sales services for the project.
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