The poor state of roads in several municipalities and districts, despite the availability of District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) equipment at some assemblies, has reignited debate over the effectiveness and management of the initiative.
Questions have been raised about whether the equipment is being fully utilised and whether the programme is achieving its intended objective of improving road networks across the country.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Adekyee Mu Nsem programme with Citizen Kofi Owusu in Accra, local governance expert Richard Fiadomor said the current situation exposes weaknesses in the planning and implementation of the DRIP initiative.
He described the programme as a knee-jerk response introduced largely to influence voters ahead of the 2024 general election rather than a carefully planned intervention aimed at strengthening local governance and road maintenance.
According to Mr. Fiadomor, although providing road maintenance equipment to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) was a commendable idea, the government failed to adequately plan for the programme before procuring the machines.
He said the initiative was introduced at a time when the Ministry of Finance, under then Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, was not releasing the constitutionally mandated allocations to the assemblies.
Mr. Fiadomor argued that instead of releasing the funds owed to the assemblies to undertake development projects, the government opted to procure DRIP equipment as an alternative.
He stressed that the machines alone cannot address the challenges facing local authorities, noting that district assemblies require adequate financial resources to effectively discharge their constitutional mandate.
Mr. Fiadomor further argued that the DRIP equipment should have been placed entirely under the control of the district assemblies in line with Ghana’s decentralisation policy.
He criticised the establishment of a national coordination structure for the programme, saying it created room for political interference and undermined the autonomy of the assemblies.
According to him, district assemblies are better positioned to identify the road infrastructure needs within their jurisdictions and should therefore have the authority to determine where and when the equipment is deployed.
His comments follow the resignation of the Director of DRIP, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, which has renewed discussions about the management and future direction of the programme.
Mr. Fiadomor maintained that while improving road infrastructure remains essential, the DRIP initiative should be reviewed to ensure the equipment is efficiently utilised to benefit communities across the country.
Background
The District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP-2024) was officially launched on July 31, 2024, at the Black Star Square by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The initiative was introduced to strengthen the capacity of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies by providing them with modern road maintenance and construction equipment.
The programme formed part of the government’s broader infrastructure agenda, which sought to improve road networks, enhance connectivity and stimulate economic growth through better road maintenance at the local level.
In addition to supplying heavy-duty equipment, DRIP-2024 was designed to provide technical training for operators and maintenance personnel to ensure the efficient use and sustainability of the machinery.
The initiative was also expected to create about 4,480 direct jobs, including positions for equipment operators, mechanics, technicians, support staff and management personnel. Government said the programme would also build local technical capacity through training in mechanical engineering, hydraulic systems and electronic diagnostics.
Improved road infrastructure was projected to enhance access to markets, reduce transportation costs, boost agricultural productivity and improve access to essential services, particularly in rural communities.
The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development was tasked with overseeing the implementation of the programme to ensure transparency, accountability and sustainability, while encouraging district assemblies to take ownership of road maintenance within their jurisdictions.
J. A. Plant Pool Ghana Limited was appointed to manage the operational implementation of the programme in collaboration with the Ministry and the MMDAs as part of a public-private partnership.
At its launch, DRIP-2024 was presented as a transformative initiative aimed at improving road infrastructure, creating employment opportunities and supporting Ghana’s long-term socio-economic development. However, recent concerns over the utilisation of the equipment and the management of the programme have renewed calls for a comprehensive review to ensure it delivers its intended benefits.
Story by Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah