He emphasised that the initiative represented a crucial step in supporting economic growth and development across country’s districts.

The Ya Na Abukari II urged the leadership of the Regional Coordinating Council and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to use the equipment for the purpose for which they were procured and to ensure good maintenance culture of the equipment.

He made the comments in his opening remarks during his address to the chiefs and people of Dagbon in Tamale at a ceremony organised by the Regional Coordinating Council to launch various road construction equipment totalling 131 for the 16 MMDAs in the region.

The Finance Minister and Member of Parliament of the Karaga Constituency, Alhaji Amin Anta Adam, who was present at the launch unveiled the new set of road construction equipment aimed at transforming road infrastructure across the region.

He said this year alone, the government had invested over GH¢17 billion on roads, which underscored the government’s commitment to enhancing rural and urban connectivity and driving equitable growth throughout the country.

Mr Adam highlighted the government’s robust investment strategy, including GH¢11 billion allocated in the first two quarters of the year and an additional GH¢7 billion planned for the rest of the year.

He categorically refuted recent claims that the equipment were funded through MPs’ common funds, clarifying that the government secured the necessary funds through treasury bills to the contractor which they used to secure bank loans to procure the equipment and denied the use of MPs common fund, saying the MPs Common Fund was highly insignificant to procure the equipment.

Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Thomas Mbomba, stressed the importance of decentralising road construction to bridge disparities between rural and urban areas. He urged the Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to utilise the equipment effectively to maximise benefits for Ghanaians.

The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Alhassan Saani Saibu, noted the exceptional benefits the initiative brings to the Northern Region, which would receive 131 new pieces of equipment including water tankers, backhoes, rollers, wheel loaders, concrete mixers, tipper trucks, and more.

Addressing the durbar of chiefs and people, the Northern Regional Private Business Manager of the JA Plant Pool, Mr Munkaila Mohammed, said the collaboration of key stakeholders includes the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD), Ministry of Finance (MoF), Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), and JA Plant Pool who would ensure rigorous monitoring and maintenance of the equipment.