The Northern Regional Minister, Alhassan Shani Shaibu, under the District Roads Improvement Programme (DRIP), has handed over 131 construction equipment to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Northern Region.
The programme has been designed to empower district assemblies with the resources and equipment necessary to rehabilitate roads within their various jurisdictions to effect meaningful changes.
Addressing the handover ceremony, the Northern Regional Minister, Alhassan Shani Shaibu, stated that the DRIP equipment will be distributed to all the 16 MMDAs in the Northern Region.
He disclosed that the heavy equipment includes a Water Tanker, Backhoe, Tipper Truck, Roller, Motor grader, Wheel loader, and Concrete Mixer with additional 6 Wheel loaders, 3 Bulldozers and 3 Lowbed, bringing the total number to 131 equipments.
He thus urged management of the various MMDAs taking delivery of the equipments on behalf of their people to adhere to the high standards of transparency, inclusivity and accountability that are key to the sustainability of the programme, for the benefit of the present and the future
He also appealed to traditional leaders and other important stakeholders at the local level to take ownership of the programme at the MMDAs level to ensure that the equipments are not abused to serve the parochial interests of some few people.
In his remarks, the Minister of Finance Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam Anta, stated that the government led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has invested significantly in transportation systems, adopting a comprehensive approach that encompasses roads, railways, and air transport.
He said the government between the period of January to July 2024, invested Ghc10 billion in the road sector alone in the country. He mentioned that the government is also determined to end the year with another investment of Ghc7 billion again in the road sector.
“We are determined to end the year with another investment of GHc 7 billion again in the road sector. This is intended to expand our road network and to deliver on the numerous infrastructure projects across the country. Our strategic goal is to stimulate economic growth, create new jobs, and make strategic transportation investments,” he said.
On his part, the Northern Regional Manager of Zoomlion Mr. Munkaila, pledged the company’s support to maintain the machines by training personnel and deploying 32 mobile service vans for 24/7 support.
He said the company has collaborated with with 48 Engineering Regiment to ensure security and disciplined use of the equipment.
Story By: Alhassan Yakubu |www.diamondfmonline.com |Ghana.
