The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensahhas issued a stern warning against the misuse of newly received road construction equipment, emphasising that it should be used solely for its intended purpose of improving the region’s road network.
The equipment, delivered under the government’s District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), is intended to enhance road conditions across the Ashanti region, which has faced significant road infrastructure challenges.
The machines numbering over 400 include bulldozers, wheel loaders, motor graders, rollers, tipper trucks, and concrete mixers, among others.
Speaking after the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council’s receipt of the equipment, the minister highlighted the dual threat of illegal activities and potential misuse.
He appealed to all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to take meticulous care of the equipment.
“This equipment could be diverted for illegal mining or other illicit activities,” the Minister warned.
“Its intended purpose is to upgrade our road network, and it must be used correctly to avoid undermining these efforts. They [the MMDCEs] should ensure that this equipment is used exclusively for government projects and not for Internally Generated Funds (IGF) purposes… Citizens must also report such activities to my office and I will do in-depth investigations and the necessary actions will be taking”, he stressed.
In 2017, the Ashanti Region was ranked as the second-worst region in terms of road infrastructure. The new equipment is expected to make significant improvements, particularly in the hinterlands, and address longstanding road issues.
Additionally, the equipment comes with manufacturer-fixed tracking systems, which will help ensure its proper use. The delivery of the machines was made possible through key stakeholders including the Ministries of Local Government and Rural Development and the Roads, Ghana Army, the Common Fund Secretariat and JA Plant Pool, a subsidiary of Jospong Group and a donor partner.
In partnership with the government through the MMDAs, JA Plant Pool will train Ghanaian youth in the servicing and maintenance of the equipment and also ensure technology transfer.
A representative of the company said: “The employment opportunities created through this programme are vast. J.A. Plant Pool is poised to recruit a workforce of over five thousand individuals including drivers, mechanics, and welders, among others.
The company also announced that to safeguard the sustainability and success of the project, Jospong Group will take up the fuelling and maintenance of the equipment to ensure that they are always available and ready for service delivery on the roads.
The event held on Friday (23 August) saw almost all the MMDCEs in attendance. Some of them who could not hide their excitement pledged to ensure that the machines served their intended purpose.
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