The National Coordinator of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has announced the recruitment of 4,460 personnel to support the programme’s operations across the country. Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Friday, June 27, 2025, Mr. Vanderpuye explained that each district will now have a team of 17 staff members, which includes one coordinator and 16 equipment operators.
This team will be responsible for implementing the initiative aimed at improving road infrastructure nationwide. He mentioned that the newly recruited personnel are currently undergoing a comprehensive training program to ensure they can effectively and safely operate the road equipment. “Some of the people who were handling the equipment were not sufficiently trained,” he stated. “For example, with tipper trucks, it is essential to know the appropriate levels they should operate at, as there are many aspects to learn when managing the equipment. Therefore, we need to take our time to ensure proper training.”
According to him, orientation for regional coordinators is currently ongoing in Ada, after which district coordinators will also be trained. In parallel, all operators across the country will be taken through hands-on training to build the necessary capacity for their roles. Mr. Vanderpuye added that President John Dramani Mahama has assured the team of a warrant to formally employ all recruits under the local government system.
This will make them official staff of the various district assemblies and ensure they can effectively carry out their responsibilities at the local level. The District Road Improvement Programme, launched to address deteriorating road networks in underserved areas, forms part of the government’s broader agenda to enhance rural accessibility and promote economic development through improved infrastructure.
By: William Narh