Foreign Affairs Minister-designate Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has alleged that the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) was overpriced by more than $100 million, calling for a renegotiation of its terms.

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Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Friday, 31st January, Ablakwa expressed concerns over financial irregularities in the project, which was launched in August 2024 to enhance road infrastructure at the district level. He argued that the cost inflation required urgent intervention to prevent further financial losses to the state.

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The DRIP initiative was designed to improve road construction and maintenance across all districts in Ghana while equipping Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) with modern machinery and technical expertise. However, Ablakwa insisted that inefficiencies in the financial execution of the project risked misallocating critical national resources.“Fortunately, only 25 percent has been paid, and not all liabilities have been met.

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I have encouraged the new Mahama administration to renegotiate the DRIP initiative so that we can save money, as my conservative estimate is that it has been inflated by more than $100 million,” he said.He further stressed that revising the financial terms of the project could free up significant funds for other essential sectors such as education, healthcare, and social welfare.

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Ablakwa noted that Ghana’s current economic challenges made it imperative for the government to scrutinize public spending and reallocate funds where they were most needed.While the DRIP initiative was envisioned as a transformative effort to decentralize road maintenance, empower local authorities, and create jobs, Ablakwa’s concerns highlight the risk of financial mismanagement undermining its intended benefits.

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He urged swift action to safeguard public resources and ensure the programme delivers real value to Ghanaians.

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