The Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, has presented road improvement equipment to Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) in the Eastern region, under the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) programme.
The programme, which is a national initiative by the government of Ghana, was launched by President Nana Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in Accra, and is aimed at improving the road network in rural and urban areas.
The earth movement vehicles include motor graders, bulldozers, backhoes, tipper trucks and other machinery.
The Minister described the initiative as a significant milestone in a collective effort to enhance the infrastructure within the region and improve the lives of the people, leading to the government’s commitment to deepen decentralisation and local governance as enshrined in Chapter 20 of the 1992 Constitution.
Mr Acheampong stated that roads connecting to towns and villages facilitate the movement of goods and services and are vital to the economic and social development in the region.
‘‘Unfortunately, some of our roads have been in deplorable conditions for some time, hindering access to markets, schools, healthcare facilities and other essential services, especially in our rural areas,’’ he stressed.
He explained that the programme is a major step towards addressing the road challenges, adding that the earth movement vehicles will empower the assemblies to maintain and improve the road network within their respective jurisdictions.
Mr. Acheampong acknowledged the support of JA Plant Pool, the suppliers of the equipment, who will also be responsible for maintenance, supply of spare parts, as well as technical training for personnel handling the machines.
The regional minister averred that the equipment would go a long way to ensure roads are safer, accessible and more reliable regardless of the season and, therefore, urged the assemblies to engage with the communities to understand their needs and prioritise road projects that will have the most significant impact.
Chief Corporate Communications Officer at the Jospong Group of Companies, Sophia Kudjordji, on her part thanked the government for recognising the critical role of improved road infrastructure in the country.
She added that the main goal of the DRIP is to improve road infrastructure within the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) by providing heavy-duty equipment such as bulldozers, wheel loaders, motor graders, rollers, Tipper trucks, concrete mixers, and many others.
