Percival Kofi Akpalo, the presidential candidate for the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), has voiced strong criticism against the government’s District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), which was launched with a commissioning of essential equipment at Black Star Square in Accra on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
While acknowledging the potential benefits of the DRIP project, Akpalo expressed concerns that the initiative would ultimately fall short of its goals.
He argued that the district assemblies would struggle to fuel and maintain the vast array of machinery provided, including motor graders, backhoes, rollers, wheel loaders, bulldozers, tipper trucks, concrete mixers, water tankers, and low beds.
“The DRIP project is a good program, but it will end nowhere because the district assemblies will find it difficult to fuel the motor graders, backhoes, rollers, wheel loaders, bulldozers, tipper trucks, concrete mixers, water tankers, and low beds,” Akpalo stated.
The DRIP initiative is a key component of the government’s strategy to enhance the country’s road networks, aiming to decentralise development and improve the quality of life for Ghanaians. By empowering Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) with the necessary resources and equipment to rehabilitate and maintain roads within their jurisdictions, the government seeks to drive meaningful local development.
The program has commissioned a fleet of 2,240 pieces of equipment to support nationwide road infrastructure improvements. These machines are intended to play a crucial role in enhancing road conditions and connectivity across the country.
However, in an interview on Hot Morning Drive monitored by Puretvonline.com, Akpalo suggested an alternative approach.
He proposed that the government should have entrusted the equipment to the military, citing their discipline and efficiency in using resources for their intended purposes.
Akpalo argued that the military, being less prone to corruption, would ensure the proper use and maintenance of the machinery.
“The government should have handed the equipment to the military for them to use to do maintenance on our roads because they are disciplined and it will be used for its purpose,” Akpalo said.
He added that the military is not corrupt when contracts are awarded to them.
Additionally, Akpalo suggested that the government could have revitalised the Public Works Department (PWD) by providing them with the equipment needed for road maintenance. He emphasised that while the DRIP initiative is commendable, he remains sceptical about the MMDAs’ ability to effectively utilise and maintain the equipment.
“The program is a very good initiative, but I believe that the MMDCEs won’t be able to use this equipment for its purpose; they will not be able to fuel the machines,” Akpalo concluded.
As the government moves forward with the DRIP project, these criticisms highlight the need for careful planning and oversight to ensure that the initiative achieves its intended impact on Ghana’s road infrastructure and local development.
Listen to the audio below: