The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has petitioned the government of Ghana through the Savannah regional minister Saeed Muhazu Jibril to intervene by stopping NPP parliamentary candidates in the region from branding the recently acquired heavy equipment for the District Road Improvement Project (DRIP) with NPP colours. The NDC also presented copies of the petition to Jira Yagbonwura BiiKunuto Jewu Soale I (Overlord of Gonja Kingdom), regional police command, NIB, and regional coordinating council.
The DRIP is an initiative aimed at enhancing Ghana’s road network by decentralising road infrastructure development and addressing challenges facing metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) across the country.
As part of the initiative, 2,240 units of road equipment including motor graders, backhoes, rollers, wheel loaders, bulldozers, water tankers, concrete mixers, tipper trucks, low beds and other essential machinery were acquired to be distributed to all MMDAs.
They were acquired through a collaboration between the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) and the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development.
The implementation of the project will be overseen by a four-member committee in each assembly including a technical officer from the Local Government Ministry, Ministry of Roads and Highways, 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) under the chairmanship of the MMDCEs.
Addressing party supporters in Damongo on Monday 9th September, 2024, the NDC regional Communications Officer, R.A Jalil outlined four (4) major issues the party expects the regional minister to do within three days or the party will also brand the equipments with NDC Parliamentary Candidates posters.
The NDC wants the minister to establish clear guidelines for the use of the equipments, remove political posters of NPP, involve all stakeholders, and ensure availability of the machinery to NDC and others, when they also need them.
“By this petition, we wish to draw your attention to this unfortunate situation while requesting your office as a law enforcement agency to that measures to prevent the politicization of these Development Road Initiative Program (DRIP) equipment by the parliamentary candidates of the NPP in the region.
On this reasonable note, we request your high office, as the law enforcement agency to enforce the law and to ensure that the equipments are available for the use of all by:
- establishing clear guidelines as to how the DRIP equipment will be used to the benefit of all and not to be used to hoodwink unsuspecting voters in the Savannah Region.
- requesting for immediate removal of all political posters on these equipment.
- by requesting the engagement of all key stakeholders including the leaders of opposition parties to be part of the execution of all projects in the various Districts.
- to ensure that anytime any opposition leader, more especially the Parliamentary Candidates request for any of the equipment to be used for the purposes of maintaining any road to benefit the people, they will be made available”.
Read the NDC statement below.
THE REGIONAL MINISTER
REGIONAL CO-ORDINATING COUNCIL,
DAMONGO, SAVANNAH REGION.
Dear Sir,
PETITION ON THE POLITISATION OF DRIP EQUIPMENTS.
We write to draw your esteemed office’s attention to the above subject matter, and we duly predicate our petition within the remit of our rights as provided for by the 1992 constitution of Ghana, as taxpaying citizens and as members of the Savannah Region.
The Government of Ghana, a couple of weeks ago launched the District Road Improvement Program in which some road maintenance equipment were launched and shared equally to all Districts for the purposes of maintaining the roads. The various regions took delivery of these equipment and subsequently unveiled them, although, with political coloration which we have our legitimate reservations over.
Fast forward, we have credible information and evidence to the effect that, the Seven (7) Parliamentary Candidates in the region have rather been given unfettered access to and undue advantage over these equipment—using them to rather campaign. Meanwhile, as per the program, these equipment were supposed to be distributed to the MMDA’s to be used by all devoid of partisan political affiliation including, the non-partisan Assembly Members. Unfortunately, this is not the case in the Savannah region.
By this petition, we wish to draw your attention to this unfortunate situation while requesting your office as a law enforcement agency to that measures to prevent the politicization of these Development Road Initiative Program (DRIP) equipment by the parliamentary candidates of the New Patriotic Party in the Savannah region.
Indeed, before these equipment were dispatched to the various Districts, posters of the NPP parliamentary candidates were seen on these equipments and presented as though they were those who purchased them for the purposes of maintaining our roads. It is our candid position that this practice undermines and compromises the independence and the integrity of our public services especially, our MMDA’s, and this, will effectively erode the trust and confidence taxpayers ought to have for them and their operations.
We want to state without any reservations that these equipment procured with taxes should remain apolitical to preserve their integrity and public confidence. Using them for political purposes will not only misrepresents their intended purposes for which they were procured but also risks public perception of bias and favoritism. This can, in the long run trigger some form of insecure, unsafe atmosphere for those to use these equipment since some members in these communities may not want to yield to any politicization and deception accompanying the use of the equipment.
On this reasonable note, we request your high office, as the law enforcement agency to enforce the law and to ensure that the equipment are available for the use of all by:
- establishing clear guidelines as to how the DRIP equipment will be used to the benefit of all and not to be used to hoodwink unsuspecting voters in the Savannah Region.
- requesting for immediate removal of all political posters on these equipment.
- by requesting the engagement of all key stakeholders including the leaders of opposition parties to be part of the execution of all projects in the various Districts.
- to ensure that anytime any opposition leader, more especially the Parliamentary Candidates request for any of the equipment to be used for the purposes of maintaining any road to benefit the people, they will be made available.
We believe that addressing these issues will contribute to a more impartial and trustworthy government and enhance public confidence in our institutions. We equally believe that when these are done, it will ensure a safe and secured environment leading to the 2024 General Elections.
We look forward to your prompt action and immediate feedback on this matter.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Sualisu Bi-Awurbi, Eqs
Regional Secretary
NDC; Savannah Region
0240998279/0249808911
CC:
- The Yagbonwura
Jakpa Palace, Damongo - The Regional Police Commander
Savannah Region, Damongo. - The NIB
Savannah Region, Damongo.
By: Abdulai Zulkaninu/ zulqanoah16@gmail.com
