In a revealing phone-in interview on the PM Jam radio show, hosted by Haruna Babangida on Monday, June 23, 2025, significant allegations were made regarding the misuse of government-owned machinery under the District Roads Improvement Project (DRIP) in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis and surrounding districts. The focal point of the revelations was an interaction between Haruna Babangida and Mr. George Bamfo, the Regional Coordinator of the DRIP Project.
The DRIP initiative, designed to enhance accessibility by rehabilitating rural and urban roads using earth-moving machines, has come under scrutiny following claims that government-owned equipment has been appropriated for private use by individuals within the assemblies. These machines, which include graders, backhoes, rollers, and trucks, were procured with public funds to ensure that poor road networks in the region could be addressed swiftly, especially in underserved communities. Haruna Babangida’s interview was triggered by a story he came across the previous week. Intrigued by the revelations, he reached out to Mr. Bamfo for clarification. Mr. Bamfo proceeded to recount a troubling chain of events, confirming that several machines under the DRIP banner had been diverted from their official use. According to him, a report surfaced alleging that some of the DRIP machinery had been stationed in questionable locations, sparking concerns about unauthorized usage. One such machine, a roller, was allegedly parked for months at Sofo Kurom, near the premises of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mr. Bamfo personally visited the location and confronted the individuals present. Initially mistaking his interest as a request to rent the equipment, one of the men began negotiations before realizing Bamfo’s official capacity. Upon probing further, Mr. Bamfo contacted Mr. Michael Dzisi, who serves as the Acting Coordinating Director for the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) and the Assembly’s Urban Roads Engineer. Mr. Dzisi claimed the machine had been used for a drainage project at the site, but denied any knowledge of its involvement in private construction work. He promised to have the roller removed. Mr. Bamfo confirmed the machine was removed by the next day, raising serious questions about its initial placement.
The misuse of public property did not end there. Just a month earlier, Mr. Bamfo was en route to Daboase to inspect a government project when he observed a DRIP truck transporting red soil without any official authorization. Upon checking his documentation, he confirmed that there was no approved project warranting such activity. Suspicious, he followed the truck, which led him back to the same Sofo Kurom location. There, he caught the driver in the act of tipping the soil and immediately seized the vehicle keys and called the police. As he waited for their arrival, another DRIP truck approached carrying the same material. Noticing Mr. Bamfo’s presence, the second driver attempted to flee, but was intercepted. Mr. Bamfo secured the second truck and once again contacted the district police commander. Both vehicles were later impounded and are currently being held at the Sekondi Police Station. According to Mr. Bamfo, these incidents are symptomatic of a larger trend whereby DRIP machines are being unlawfully leased to private contractors, often with the complicity of officials within the Assemblies. Revenue generated from these unofficial transactions is alleged to end up in the personal pockets of those overseeing the equipment, rather than being returned to the Assembly or used for its intended public benefit. When asked by Haruna why such misuse was occurring while many roads in the region remain unmotorable, Mr. Bamfo provided a detailed explanation of the operational challenges facing the Assemblies. Although machines exist across the districts, some possessing up to nine machines, there are substantial financial limitations. The Assemblies are expected to provide fuel and basic logistical support, after which technical input is supposed to come from the Department of Highways. Due to weak financial capacity, many Assemblies cannot meet these obligations and are forced to depend on support from agencies such as the Minerals Commission. This situation, Mr. Bamfo explained, creates a vacuum that opportunistic individuals exploit, renting out state-owned machinery to private contractors, often without any formal framework or oversight. He further noted the deteriorating condition of some DRIP machines due to irresponsible usage. A grader assigned to Axim has reportedly been abandoned after sustaining damage while in the hands of a private contractor. A backhoe stationed at Mpohor is currently unusable due to severe overheating. Mr. Bamfo emphasized that these machines were procured by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration just three months before they left office, with the specific aim of empowering local governments to address road challenges directly. Unfortunately, mismanagement and a lack of accountability have undermined this vision.
As Regional Coordinator, Mr. Bamfo said he had compiled a comprehensive report on the status of DRIP machines across the Western Region, documenting the various abuses, breakdowns, and unauthorized activities. This report has since been submitted to the National DRIP Coordinator for review and action. Some DCEs and MCEs have taken steps in response, impounding machines that were inappropriately used within their jurisdictions. Mr. Bamfo cited the case of the Shama District Assembly, which requested DRIP support to carry out road repairs along the Accra-Takoradi Highway. In that instance, local quarry operators provided materials to support the effort. However, such legitimate uses remain rare, as many machines continue to be misappropriated for private gain. He stressed that none of the income generated from such illegal leasing arrangements makes it back into the Assembly’s books. Instead, it is siphoned off by those entrusted with the oversight of these publicly funded resources. To address this issue, the Valuation Department has been contacted to conduct a full appraisal of the misused machinery and estimate the financial cost of its unauthorized deployment. Once this evaluation is completed, Mr. Bamfo stated, the individuals responsible will be required to refund the equivalent sums to the state. He reiterated that such repayments are necessary not only to recover lost funds but also to affirm the state’s commitment to upholding its financial regulations and enforcing consequences for public sector malpractice.
Mr. Bamfo concluded the interview with a strong appeal to the public. He urged citizens to report any DRIP-labeled equipment seen operating on private lands or construction sites. The DRIP machines, he reminded listeners, were procured using taxpayer money and must be used exclusively for public benefit. The project’s original intent was to empower MPs, DCEs, and MCEs to fix potholes and rehabilitate roads, especially in communities overlooked by larger infrastructure programs. What emerged from the interview was more than a set of isolated incidents; it was a vivid illustration of systemic failure in resource governance at the local level. As the situation unfolds, public interest is mounting. The revelations shared by Mr. Bamfo have ignited outrage and stirred demands for accountability. His statements made it clear that while the tools for road development exist, their misuse by a few has deprived many of progress. Whether this moment leads to genuine reform or becomes another lost opportunity in Ghana’s ongoing struggle with public sector accountability remains to be seen.
Abuse of DRIP Machinery In Sekondi-Takoradi Sparks Public Outrage and Official Probe
