The National Democratic Congress is accusing the Wa West DCE, Madam Vida Dorotey of handing over District Roads Improvement Program (DRIP) equipment to the NPP Parliamentary Candidate Mr Saatri James Kpir-faaty.

They described the development as unlawful as the candidate does not have any locus to keep machines meant for the district in his custody, questioning his role at the assembly.

The DRIP machines are meant to improve the road infrastructure in the district as the government of Ghana has initiated a programme set to empower Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) with the tools and resources needed to enhance road networks across the country. The President on July 31, 2024, pronounced that, the source of funding for this equipment was the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) which is a creation of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana in Article 252.

The NDC also indicated that roads targeted for completion this November 2024 include; Gurungu-Dornye, Tokali –Dodoma, Tokali-Talawona, Wechiau-Tokali, Ponyentanga-Nahaa-Da-eyir, Vieri-Bongberi-Dorimon-Dontanga and however questioned the mandate of the parliamentary candidate in the execution process.
They also accuse the NPP of trying to dupe the people of Wa West off their bonafide properties while painting the picture as though the PC is doing the constituents a favour.

They also disclosed that the tipper truck is being hired by a contractor working on a SOCO project at Nyoli, as it works day and night fetching gravel and sand at a lower price for private individuals instead of the standard price of GHS1,600.00 and being used free of charge for beneficiaries of an NGO owned by the Mr Saatri James Kpir-faaty the NPP Parliamentary candidate for the area.

They also alleged that the proceeds from the equipment is used for the benefit of the Parliamentary candidate.

The NDC now demands answers from the DCE and NPP Parliamentary candidates the following among others.

1. On what basis did the DCE hand over the equipment to the NPP PC without any approval from the Assembly Members?
2. In what capacity has the NPP PC received the equipment?
3. What are the terms of reference for the two parties in the deal?
4. Per the arrangement in the DRIP, Management and Technical Committees the NDC want to know who the committee members are.
5. The NDC also want to know which projects need to be undertaken.

“Given the above issues raised, one would not be wrong to conclude that they deliberately collapsed the District Assembly concept to be able to steal. The failure to elect a Presiding Member is a ploy to rob the Assembly” the statement said

The NDC called on Mr Saatri James Kpir-faaty to return all the DRIP machines in his custody. They however threatened that failure to comply with the above request would amount to ‘invoking the wrath of the people of Wa West as they would not treat accountability with malice.

Source: Radio Waa