The North East Regional Minister, Hon. Yidana Zakaria, has announced the distribution of cutting-edge construction machinery under the District Road Improvement Project (DRIP) across the region’s six municipal and district assemblies (MDAs), aimed at enhancing local road networks.
This initiative, launched by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Accra, has commenced nationwide, with various regions receiving allocated road equipment as part of the programme.
DRIP, a presidential initiative, seeks to decentralise road infrastructure development to address the deficiencies in the country’s road networks.
At the Regional Coordinating Council in Nalerigu, where the road equipment is being stored before distribution, Mr. Zakaria emphasised the need for the initiative to remain free from political influence.
He disclosed that mobile maintenance teams, comprising both Chinese and Ghanaian technicians, will be deployed to perform routine upkeep of the machinery.
Additionally, he said there were plans for knowledge transfer, with Ghanaian technicians, including students from technical institutions, receiving training in the proper handling of the equipment.
He further announced the arrangements for fuel depots to support the operation of the machinery across districts have been made.
Mr. Zakaria expressed his appreciation to the President of Ghana, the Ministry of Roads and Highways, the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Ministry of Finance, and the Administrator of the Common Fund for their collaborative efforts in ensuring the success of the road improvement programme.
The programme is projected to generate nearly 5,000 direct jobs, stimulate local economic growth, and mitigate post-harvest losses by improving road access for farmers transporting produce to the market. It is also expected to enhance overall service delivery across the nation.
The North East Regional Coordinator of the Jospong Group of Companies owners of J.A Plant Pool, Nahimu Adams, stated that the region was set to receive sixty-one pieces of machinery, with J.A Plant Pool and its Chinese partners, LiuGong, providing technical support for the DRIP project.
The ceremony’s chairman and representative of the Nayiri, Kpatidana Ben Bukari Wudana, Chief of Kpatiya Traditional Area, praised the provision of the machinery as a significant move towards decentralising development. He highlighted that the machinery will greatly facilitate road construction and maintenance, thus advancing socio-economic activities and improving access to education and healthcare services.
He urged the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to ensure the effective utilisation of the equipment to drive development, particularly in the more remote areas of the region.