Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama demanding a forensic audit into roads, the Nana Akufo Addo- Bawumia government claims it has constructed.
The former President, who re-echoing series of complaints by Chiefs of the Bono region about neglected cocoa road projects since 2017, described as pathetic, the deplorable state of some of the projects which were near completion, especially because of the additional financial burden on the state to fix them.
He wondered where the so-called new roads are after claims by government, they had constructed more roads than any government since 1992, under the ‘Year of Roads’ policy announced over two years ago.
‘I have been campaigning in the Upper East, Volta, Greater Accra, Bono and Bono East regions and I have not seen any major change in terms of road infrastructure. And its not me alone. The chiefs and people are equally disappointed and complaining” – he lamented, questioning the visibility of government’s claim.
At a media encounter in Sunyani, to wrap up his tour of the Bono region, Mr. Mahama said claims of such nature must not be taken line hook and sinker
“You all travelled with me. You have seen the nature of the bad roads and felt it with me. When we come , we will audit it” he assured
The Dormaahene Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyeman Badu II who is also the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs who spoke during John Mahama’s engagement with traditional leaders as part of his campaign tour equally slammed government for the neglect.
The NDC flagbearer had earlier called on Ghanaians, during his campaign not to be swayed by what he describes as vote-buying gimmicks through the recently launched District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP).
Under the initiative, government is deploying 2,240 pieces of equipment, including motor graders, backhoes, rollers, wheel loaders, bulldozers, tipper trucks, concrete mixers, water tankers, and low beds.
There are already concerns about the exploitation of the initiative by NPP Parliamentary candidates who have fixed campaign posters on bulldozers to suggest they are personally executing the projects.
