The National Coordinator of the District Roads Improvement Programme (DRIP), Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the burning of a DRIP machine at the office of the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) in Dunkwa-On-Offin.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Tuesday, December 12, Vanderpuye said the probe aims to determine the cause of the burning and assess the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to him, he has ordered the immediate withdrawal of all DRIP machines from the Municipal Assembly to the Regional Coordinating Council headquarters for further investigations.
He noted that he has given the Regional Minister a two-week ultimatum to complete the investigation and submit a report.
“I immediately ordered that the equipment be withdrawn and a full investigation conducted to establish what led to the burning of the low-bed truck and the destruction of one of the bulldozers at the Regional Coordinating Council.
“In one case, salt was poured into the bulldozer’s transmission system. I have informed the Regional Minister that I expect answers within two weeks,” he said.
He, however, described the allegations linking the Central Regional Minister to illegal mining in connection with the incident as unfounded, stating that no evidence has emerged to support such claims.
The burnt loader, part of the DRIP fleet strictly meant for road improvement projects, was discovered during a monitoring tour by Vanderpuye and the Central Regional DRIP Coordinator, Oneil Awal, stationed at the MCE’s office instead of a road project site.
