The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has asserted that the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) will not be enough to secure victory for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming December 7 elections.
Speaking to voters in Asesewa in the Upper Manya Krobo constituency in the Eastern Region Mr. Asiedu Nketia criticized the NPP for failing to deliver on their promises to improve the country’s road network, despite declaring a “Year of Roads” in previous budgets.
He argued that the recently launched DRIP initiative, which aims to enhance road infrastructure by equipping Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) with 2,240 pieces of road construction equipment, comes too late to make any meaningful impact.
“You prepared a budget and named it Year of Roads but nothing happened. Second budget you made a Year of Roads chapter two too nothing happened. Now that you have less than four months to leave power you have procured equipment to construct roads. This will do nothing to the fortunes of the NPP so I want to encourage you to be firm” Said Johnson Asiedu Nketia.
The NPP has been accused of using the DRIP equipment as a political tool to garner support.
In Upper Manya Krobo for instance, tensions escalated Monday, August 26 when the equipment, adorned with posters of the NPP’s parliamentary candidate Joseph Tetteh and presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was paraded.
This led to a violent clash between NPP and NDC supporters, resulting in three injuries.
Mr. Asiedu Nketia stated that the NDC has a comprehensive plan to improve road infrastructure across the country which he believes will boost agriculture and reduce post-harvest losses.
The Member of Parliament for Upper Manya Krobo, Bismark Tetteh Nyarko, also condemned the NPP’s actions, accusing them of using national assets, funded by taxpayers, for political gain.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Kojo Ansah
