3 months ago
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The Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, on Thursday, handed over 110 road maintenance equipment to 14 District Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
They included three bulldozers, six wheel loaders, 28 concrete mixers, 14 motor graders, 14 water tankers, 14 tipper trucks, 14 backhoes and 14 rollers.
The presentation formed part of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) aimed at expanding road network coverage, increasing accessibility, enhancing mobility and improving economic activities in the Western Region.
Presenting the equipment, Mr Darko-Mensah said, DRIP would help resolve the road infrastructure challenges across the country including Western Region.
He said, the President’s vision was to resource MMDAs across the country to provide road improvement services, create jobs and harness huge prospects.
“DRIP is about creating a connected and thriving Ghana, where every district, no matter how remote and feels the impact of progress,” he said.
DRIP, Mr Darko-Mensah noted, would also ensure the progress and prosperity of the country at the local level.
He added, DRIP was the largest investment ever made in the local government sector providing nearly 1,500 equipment to MMDAs across the country.
For the Western Region, Mr Darko-Mensah said, DRIP was expected to create nearly 8,000 direct jobs, stimulate local economic development, and reduce post-harvest losses.
Farmers, he explained, would also have improved roads to transport their farm produce to market centres and improve general service delivery.
He, therefore, charged all Chief Executives and other stakeholders, to work closely to enable the communities derive the maximum benefits from the programme.
Mr Darko-Mensah assured that the Regional Coordinating Council would co-ordinate the activities of MMDAs to closely monitor the effective utilisation of the equipment.
He announced that 420 operators and drivers would be trained for the Western Region.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Prestea-Huni Valley, Dr Isaac Dasmani, thanked the President for the bold steps with DRIP and Mr Darko-Mensah, for the instrumental role he played in the programme.
“We are aware of the challenges of roads in the region and we’ll ensure the equipment are put to good use for the benefit of the people of the Western Region,” he stated.
The Regional Coordinator, Zoomlion, Fred Hanson, on behalf of Jospong Group and J.A Plant Pool, told journalists that the equipment from China came with quality to deliver good development in road infrastructure of the country.
FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, APREMDO
