The Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has reveal that the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) initiative was raise by over $100 million.
During his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Friday, January 31, Ablakwa raise concerns about the project and mention that only 25 percent of the total project cost has been disburse so far, leaving room for renegotiation.
Further, Ablakwa urge the incoming Mahama administration to renegotiate the DRIP to cut costs, estimating the overinflation at more than $100 million. He stressed that such savings could make a significant difference for a country in need of an IMF bailout.
Although DRIP was plan with noble goals, Ablakwa criticised its financial management, warning that inefficiencies within the project could waste valuable resources.
The initiative, aimed at improving road maintenance and construction across districts, also seeks to strengthen the capacity of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) by providing them with modern machinery and technical training.
