Bono Minister presents DRIP machines to MDAs

Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister, has presented earth moving machines to the 12 Municipal and District Assemblies in the Region under the government's District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP).The machines include tipper trucks, backhoes, water tankers, rollers, motor graders, wheel loaders, bulldozers, low beds, and concrete mixers.DRIP is a government initiative aimed at improving road infrastructure by providing essential equipment to the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the country.The machines according to Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister, would be used to re-shape and maintain deplorable roads to enhance transportation and economic activities in the region.Speaking at a short presentation ceremony in Sunyani, the Regional Minister said a total of 96 earth moving machines had been allocated to the region.They include 12 tipper trucks, 12 graders, 12 backhoes, 12 water tankers, 12 rollers, six-wheel loaders, three bulldozers, th ree low beds and 24 concrete mixers.Madam Owusu-Banahene said the machines would contribute to the creation of about 300 direct and indirect jobs, and thereby increase income levels, and improve the socio-economic livelihoods of the people.She said the DRIP would help reduce post-harvest losses of farm produce, improve access to market centres, enhance the transport system, decrease vehicle breakdowns, and potentially lower lorry fares.Madam Owusu-Banahene underlined the need to train the operators of the machines and equipment on good safety and maintenance practices.?It is also crucial to establish a maintenance schedule for routine tasks such as cleaning, lubricating, and inspection of the equipment as well ensuring regular monitoring against damage or malfunction which are essential for the longevity of the machines.Mr Emmanuel Abasiya, the Bono Regional Coordinator of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a waste management and sanitation firm, expressed the organisation's dedication to enhancing capacity th rough strategic partnerships with Technical Universities in the country and abroad.The collaborations aimed at offering Ghanaian students specialised training in Mechanical, Electrical, and Auto Engineering, he said, saying the programmes would include skill training, exchange opportunities, internships, and potential job placements.To ensure optimal performance and maintenance of machines and equipment, Mr Abasiya added Zoomlion had deployed 32 mobile service vans, fully equipped with specialised tools to support the operations of the machines.Additionally, he said tracking and telematics devices had been set up for efficient monitoring and announced plans by the firm to collaborate with the various Technical Universities for the establishment of equipment assembly plants across the country.Source: Ghana News Agency