Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu, has revealed that deeply concerning details are emerging from an ongoing parliamentary investigation into the government’s controversial and opaque District Road Improvement Project (DRIP).
Hon. Ablakwa mentioned that President Akufo-Addo launched the DRIP initiative on July 31, 2024, describing it as a significant step towards transforming Ghana’s road infrastructure.
He also noted that Vice President Bawumia has prominently featured DRIP in his rather uninspiring campaigns, claiming full credit for the project and refusing to share recognition with anyone else.
“A video making the rounds has Vice President Bawumia claiming to have chaired the Critical Roads Committee which birthed the DRIP idea and that they did not seek parliamentary approval to implement DRIP. In a considerable number of constituencies across the country, NPP parliamentary candidates and MMDCEs have hijacked the equipment affixing NPP posters and using them for cheap partisan vote-seeking rendezvous”.
“The DRIP war appears to have reached a crescendo in constituencies such as Awutu Senya West where the NDC Communications Officer and two other NDC members were recently arrested and remanded in police custody for removing posters of Akufo-Addo’s Presidential Spokesperson and NPP Parliamentary Candidate, Eugene Arhin which had been splashed all over the DRIP equipment”.
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Hon. Ablakwa highlighted that parliamentary oversight into the government’s DRIP initiative uncovered that the cost of the DRIP equipment to Ghanaian taxpayers is an astonishing US$178,704,739.50, equivalent to a staggering GH₵ 2.8 billion.
He also expressed concern that the District Assemblies Common Fund Secretariat has indicated this figure will increase further once training, recruitment, PPEs, and other procurements are finalized.
The astute MP revealed that the sole funding source for DRIP is the District Assemblies Common Fund, and the enormous liability could cripple the fund in the coming years.
Ablakwa further noted that the US$178.7 million (GH₵2.8 billion) contract was not awarded through a competitive process. Instead, it was another single-sourced sweetheart deal, as confirmed by the DACF in their formal response.
He highlighted that while in opposition, Akufo-Addo and Bawumia had vocally pledged to end the practice of single-sourced contracts.
However, he stated that their administration has seen some of the most blatant and reckless abuses of single-sourcing.
Accordingly, Ablakwa revealed that the US$178.7 million (GH₵2.8 billion) single-sourced deal was awarded to J.A. Plantpool, part of the Zoomlion conglomerate.
No Value-for-Money Audit Found
Furthermore, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa revealed that rigorous parliamentary scrutiny has shown there has been no value-for-money audit for this transaction, in clear violation of the PFMA. Hon.
Ablakwa pointed out that despite Bawumia’s boastful claims, the government has only paid 15% of the cost of the DRIP equipment.
The MP indicated that in response to his and Hon. Ayariga’s RTI request regarding the payments made, the DACF disclosed that only the 15% advance mobilization of US$26,805,710.93 has been paid.
He also noted that, according to the payment schedule obtained from the District Assembly Common Fund Secretariat through our RTI requests, the government has arranged to pay J.A. Plantpool over nine months.
According to the MP, It appears that the next NDC government will be responsible for a larger share of the payments starting January 7, 2025.
“So far, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government has been unable to keep to its agreed monthly payment schedule to J.A. Plantpool after paying the initial 15%. If this trend continues with barely two months to go before the December 7 elections, the next NDC government led by President Mahama will be required to pay the remaining 85%”.
“The obvious irony is that NDC members are being arrested and harassed over equipment which their government is potentially going to be responsible for its 85% payment when the NDC wins the December 7, 2024 election; I must hasten to add, however, that it is most unlikely that the next NDC government will fully accept the terms of this opaque sweetheart deal and if the extremely problematic unit pricing would be respected”.
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Hon. Ablakwa questioned why the government is creating massive debts for the next administration without transparency, accountability, or a bipartisan approach.
He noted that parliamentary checks reveal the true nature of the DRIP transaction has not been disclosed to the IMF, which is struggling to manage the fiscally undisciplined Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government.
According to the NDC stalwart, the breakdown of DRIP equipment shows wasteful misalignment.
Ablakwa indicated that despite Ghana having 261 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies, taxpayers are being asked to pay for 400 tipper trucks, 700 concrete mixers, 280 backhoes, 280 water tankers, 280 single drum rollers, and 280 motor graders.
He indicated that the purpose of the excess equipment remains unclear, raising concerns about potential corruption.
Ablakwa pointed out that, contrary to the government’s public stance, RTI documents revealed that only 100 wheel loaders, 50 bulldozers, and 50 low beds were ordered for Ghana’s 261 districts.
He noted that the criteria and distribution formula remain secret despite persistent parliamentary inquiries.
The MP also noted that while Bawumia claims parliament had no role in the DRIP initiative, the DACF Secretariat asserts they sought parliamentary approval.
He stated that, however, it appears the government and DACF Secretariat were not transparent with Parliament. Consequently, parliamentary actions to address this deception will commence soon.
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