Editorial: Decentralising road construction & maintenance is the way to go!

The  District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) launch is a nationwide initiative to improve road conditions in all 275 constituencies by President Nana Akufo-Addo, and is very laudable.

Led by the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, DRIP will address the National Security Ministry’s concerns about poor road conditions being a significant national security threat.

The President commissioned 2,240 units of state-of-the-art road equipment, marking a major boost to the country’s road infrastructure. It included a diverse fleet of trucks as well as water tankers, backhoes, motor graders, rollers, tipper-trucks, concrete mixers and bulldozers.

President Akufo-Addo emphasised his government’s commitment to decentralising development and transforming road networks across the country, while acknowledging the progress made and need for more to be done.

Thus, the equipment will be distributed to all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and is as a result of the Ghana-China collaboration. DRIP-2024 aims to create safer, more efficient roads that will significantly boost local economies and improve the quality of life for citizens.

For his part, Mr. Asenso Boakye, Minister for Roads and Highways, said improving district road networks is crucial in connecting communities, facilitating trade and ensuring access to essential services. He said the initiative represents a step toward enhancing the country’s infrastructure, promoting economic growth and improving the lives of its citizens.

This Paper lauds the initiative for the simple fact that empowering local governments to foster development and improve citizens’ lives is the best way to actualise our decentraliation programme and make our democracy more meaningful.

The inaugurated equipment will enable districts to construct, maintain and improve the country’s road network, facilitating trade, movement of people and goods – thus contributing to socio-economic development.

Indeed, this inauguration marks the beginning of a new era in district road infrastructure development.

Meanwhile, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guangxi LiuGong Machinery Co. Ltd., Zeng Guang’An, expressed his company’s happiness with being a key partner in DRIP.

“We believe that robust infrastructure is the backbone of economic growth, and our machines are built to support this vision,” he added.

This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s development journey – with LiuGong’s equipment playing a crucial role in transforming the country’s road infrastructure.

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