By: Franklin Asare-Donkoh
A backhoe machine belonging to the Obuasi West Municipal Assembly has been impounded by the National Coordinator of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), Mr Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, after it was found being used illegally.
The equipment was intercepted on the Obuasi-Kumasi highway with a broken hydraulic valve.
Upon interrogation, the machine operator claimed he was assigned the task by one of the engineers at the assembly. However, Mr Vanderpuye was not convinced by the explanation and subsequently called in the Obuasi police to arrest the operator and take possession of the machine for further investigation.
The DRIP National Coordinator warned that no one would be allowed to misuse equipment under the management of the DRIP Secretariat. He stated that any official who authorises the use of such machines without the express permission of the district roads management team and the district coordinator would be surcharged for the cost of servicing and maintenance.
Mr Vanderpuye also urged the general public to take interest in how the machines are used, stressing that they are valuable national assets.
He appealed to the assemblies to be patient and wait for proper training of machine operators before handing over the equipment.
He assured that the operator training programme would soon commence in all regional capitals.
