Deputy National DRIP Coordinator, Kwadwo Nyarko Aboagye, has warned coordinators in the Northern and Savannah Regions to handle the equipment with care and refrain from using it for illegal purposes.

Speaking at an orientation workshop held for coordinators in Tamale, he stressed that anyone found guilty of misuse would be prosecuted and could face imprisonment.

The orientation, which brought together 23 coordinators, 16 from the Northern Region and 7 from the Savannah Region, aimed at equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to ensure proper usage and maintenance.

Linking his caution to national priorities, Mr Aboagye noted that President Mahama’s resetting agenda could only be achieved if Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) manage the equipment responsibly.

Reinforcing the message, Northern Regional Minister Ali Adolf John also urged the coordinators to resist the temptation of personal use and to adopt a maintenance culture that would benefit their districts.

He explained that poor handling and lack of accountability for DRIP equipment had already created setbacks in the region.

Highlighting one of the key challenges, the Minister revealed that some district assemblies had failed to return DRIP equipment to the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) since last year, with some items still untraceable.

He urged the new coordinators to assist in the recovery of the missing equipment. "Some district assemblies have refused to return DRIP equipment to the RCC since last year, and the Northern RCC cannot trace them to this day."