President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, former Member of Parliament for Odododiodio, as the National Coordinator for the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP).

The appointment puts him at the helm of enhancing road infrastructure across Ghana, a critical area of national development.

DRIP, launched in July 2024 by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was designed to improve road networks across all 275 constituencies.

The initiative focuses on equipping Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) with the necessary resources and machinery to facilitate effective road maintenance and construction.

As part of its mandate, the programme seeks to decentralise infrastructure development, enabling local authorities to undertake much-needed road projects with efficiency and accountability.

Mr Vanderpuye’s appointment is particularly significant given his longstanding advocacy for transparency and accountability in government-led infrastructure projects.

Beyond his parliamentary tenure, Mr Vanderpuye has held key ministerial positions, including serving as Minister of Youth and Sports and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry under a previous Mahama administration.

As National Coordinator, Vanderpuye is expected to oversee DRIP’s implementation, working closely with relevant stakeholders to achieve its objectives.