How Dr. Bawumia’s DRIP Project Ballooned from GHS 78.7M to GHS 178.7M Through Sole Sourcing – Ablakwa Reveals Shocking Details

Member of Parliament for North Tongu and Chairman of Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), Hon. Samuel Okudzato Ablakwa, has revealed damning facts about Vice President Dr. Bawumia’s DRIP project, alleging it was marred by sole sourcing and cost Ghana millions of dollars.

Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, Hon. Ablakwa criticized the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) for shoddy overpricing and procurement irregularities. He accused the Vice President, who once vowed to halt sole sourcing due to its inherent problems, of utilizing the same procurement method to acquire DRIP equipment.

The DRIP initiative, touted by Dr. Bawumia as an innovative solution to improve district roads through the supply of maintenance machinery, has drawn scrutiny. Following a Right to Information (RTI) request filed by Hon. Ablakwa and Hon. Mahama Ayariga, it was revealed that the project is costing Ghana a staggering $178.7 million. According to Hon. Ablakwa, this cost was significantly inflated, as the open market value of the machines should have been $78.7 million.

The RTI response further disclosed that the project would be paid through a nine-month installment plan, with monthly payments of nearly $17 million and a final installment of approximately $27 million. The sole-sourcing procurement method raised alarms, with Hon. Ablakwa describing it as a deliberate attempt to shortchange Ghanaians.

He alleged that someone involved in the contract intended to pocket a $100 million profit. Comparing the current market prices of the DRIP machinery with those procured under the project, the ORAL team discovered significant inflation in costs.

Hon. Ablakwa expressed disappointment that Dr. Bawumia, who had previously criticized sole sourcing as detrimental to the country, has contradicted his own principles. He cited earlier remarks made by the Vice President, in which Dr. Bawumia pledged to abolish sole sourcing upon the NPP government assuming office in 2017.

The MP also accused Dr. Bawumia of awarding the controversial Cocoa Roads contract to his brother, Ibrahim Bawumia, through Resource Access Limited. This contract, according to the Auditor General, was three times overpriced.

The DRIP project’s inflated cost of $178.7 million (approximately GHS2.8 billion) is beyond the means of the District Assembly Common Fund, compelling the government to finance only 15% upfront and defer the remainder to be paid in installments. Hon. Ablakwa emphasized that this arrangement leaves an impending NDC government with the burden of completing payments for overpriced machinery.

He concluded that the Vice President had betrayed his promises and accused him of masterminding plans to exploit the system at Ghana’s expense.

Watch @S_OkudzetoAblak give the full exposé of Bawumia’s DRIP project.

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With the Dr. Bawumia’s DRIP Project Ballooned from GHS 78.7M to GHS 178.7M Through Sole Sourcing, the ORAL team is expected to dig further and help set the tone for the recovery of funds. However, Hon. Ablakwa added that, the next NDC goverment was going to renegotiate the deal.