Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to renegotiate the terms of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), citing concerns about overpricing.
During his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Friday, January 31, Mr. Ablakwa claimed that the project, launched in August 2024, had been inflated by more than $100 million.
The DRIP initiative, aimed at improving road infrastructure across districts, included providing Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) with advanced machinery and technical training.
Mr. Ablakwa argued that inefficiencies in financial execution had compromised the project’s cost-effectiveness.
He revealed that only 25% of the project’s total cost had been paid, presenting an opportunity for renegotiation to save public funds.
“I have encouraged the new Mahama administration to renegotiate the DRIP initiative because it has been inflated by more than $100 million. Saving this amount is critical, especially for an IMF-bailout country like Ghana,” he said.
He further emphasized that recovering the inflated funds could significantly benefit key sectors such as education, healthcare, and social programs, which require urgent investment amid Ghana’s economic challenges.
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