The Minority in Parliament is demanding that legislators be included in the management committee set up to manage the District Road Infrastructure Programme (DRIP).

Ranking Member on the Committee Nii Lante Vanderpuye insists MPs must be part of any process to manage this earth-moving equipment in the districts.

He stated that the MPs were assured that they and the DCEs will together chair the management committee that will be formed.

“We are asking that this bad faith exhibited by the government in the exclusion of the Members of Parliament must be reversed immediately,” he said.

His comment follows the President on Wednesday morning commissioning hundreds of earth-moving equipment to fix bad roads across the country.

• Read also: DRIP is unprecedented; give Akufo-Addo his commendation – Adjei Mensah-Korsah

However, the NDC MPs are angry that they have been excluded from the committee to manage this process, warning it could lead to conflicts in the districts.

According to Mr Vanderpuye, the MPs “are alarmed by the clandestine scheming of this wonderful initiative by the government for political gains.”

This, he explained, is because the programme was created through the efforts of MPs, especially the Local Government and Rural Government Committee and the administrator of the District Assembly Common Fund.

Additionally, Deputy Ranking Member on the Local Government Committee Benjamin Kpodo referenced the District Assemblies Common Fund Allocation Formula to back their demand.

But the Minister for Local Government and Decentralisation, Martin Adjei Mensah-Korsah, has praised President Akufo-Addo for launching the District Road Improvement Programme.

The Minister described the initiative as unprecedented in Ghana's history and a testament to President Akufo-Addo's dedication to the effective functioning of district assemblies.

Speaking at the launch held at the Black Star Square on Wednesday, July 31, Minister Adjei Mensah-Korsah called on Ghanaians to commend the president for this significant achievement.

He emphasised that the DRIP showcases the president's commitment to enhancing local infrastructure and development.