By Prince Acquah
Cape Coast, Aug 23, GNA – The Central Regional Coordinating Council (CRCC) has taken delivery of the region’s share of the modern construction equipment under the District Road Improvement Project (DRIP) for onward distribution to the 22 districts.
The equipment, fitted with tracking devices, includes graders, backhoe loaders, concrete mixers, tipper trucks, water tanks, wheel loaders, and compactors.
The region alone is expected to receive close to 200 of the machines all of which are expected to arrive next week for immediate distribution.
Already, Awutu Senya East, Cape Coast South and Upper Denkyira East have received theirs.
As part of the project, a two-day workshop on maintenance and safety has also been held for some machine operators to build their capacity for efficient usage.
DRIP is a government initiative to transform the country’s road infrastructure, management, and improvement by empowering Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) with the tools and resources needed to enhance road networks across the country.
Mrs Justina Marigold Assan, the Central Regional Minister, indicated that the arrival of the machines would open the communities to development and improve economic activities.
She explained that the equipment came along with fuel, money, and other necessities to ensure a smooth take off the project.
In addition, she indicated that there would be some 32 mobile workshop vans, which would move around to fix faults the equipment might develop.
The minister commended the President and the Vice President for making efforts to ensure that all roads were motorable to make the people comfortable.
She entreated the various assemblies, particularly the operators, to take good care of the machines to increase their lifespan and derive the full benefits.
“Do not just see them as government’s property. treat them as though they were your private property and investment.
“They are machines and so if you don’t take good care of them, you are not going to have the full benefits of the vehicles,” she advised and urged them to quickly report any fault they may encounter to the officials.
Mrs Assan entreated the operators to put the training to effective use and encouraged them to promptly report any incident of pipeline and cable cuts while working for immediate repairs.
She further explained that the operators would be paid on monthly basis by the government.
“It is a huge exercise and it is an exercise that the Government of Ghana is so poised to ensure that the operators are doing it and doing it well,” she said.
Mr Stephen Kwame Quaye, the Regional Coordinator for DRIP, noted that the distribution of the available machines would start from Friday, August 23, to help make the roads motorable to bring relief to the people.
He believed that the project would put money in the pockets of commercial drivers because improved roads would mitigate the damage done to their cars.
Mr Quaye noted that construction works would be done based on a schedule under strict supervision.
Mr Ebenezer Appiah Forson, the Municipal Chief Executive for Upper Denkyira East, on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the President and his Vice for the gesture and pledged to put the equipment to good use.
Mr John Baidoo, a tipper truck driver, who was visibly elated by the arrival of the machines, expressed gratitude to the government for the project because it would provide employment for them.
“It tells us that the President loves this country and wants the best for the people,” he said, assuring that they would handle the machines with care.
GNA