Ashanti Regional Minister Warns Against Misuse of New Road Construction Equipment

Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah has warned sternly about properly using newly acquired road construction equipment.

The equipment, delivered under the government’s District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), is intended to significantly enhance the road network in the Ashanti region, which has long struggled with infrastructure challenges.

The shipment includes over 400 pieces of machinery, such as bulldozers, wheel loaders, motor graders, rollers, tipper trucks, and concrete mixers.

Osei-Mensah emphasized that this equipment must be used exclusively to improve the region’s roads and must not be diverted for illegal activities or other purposes.

In a recent address following the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council’s receipt of the equipment, Osei-Mensah urged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to safeguard the machinery. “This equipment could be diverted for illegal mining or other illicit activities,” he warned.

“Its intended purpose is to upgrade our road network, and it must be used correctly to avoid undermining these efforts. MMDCEs should ensure that this equipment is used exclusively for government projects and not for Internally Generated Funds (IGF) purposes.”

Osei-Mensah also asked citizens to report any misuse of the equipment to his office. “I will conduct in-depth investigations and take necessary action,” he assured.

The Ashanti Region ranked second worst in road infrastructure in 2017, but the new equipment is expected to improve it significantly.

This initiative aims to address longstanding road issues, particularly in the hinterlands.

The equipment comes equipped with manufacturer-fixed tracking systems to monitor its use. Key stakeholders, including the Ministries of Local Government and Rural Development, Roads, the Ghana Army, the Common Fund Secretariat, and JA Plant Pool, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group, facilitated the delivery.

JA Plant Pool will also train Ghanaian youth in the maintenance and servicing of the equipment, ensuring technology transfer and creating employment opportunities.

The company plans to recruit over 5,000 individuals, including drivers, mechanics, and welders.

Additionally, Jospong Group will handle the fuelling and maintenance of the equipment to ensure its readiness and effective service delivery.

Nearly all MMDCEs attended the event on August 23.

Many expressed their excitement and commitment to ensuring the equipment is used as intended.