The Minority caucus in Parliament has officially petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to investigate what they describe as significant misuse of resources within the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) in Wa West.

The request for accountability focuses on the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Wa West, Vida Dioretey, who allegedly redirected DRIP resources, including essential equipment and a substantial maintenance fund, to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary candidate in the district. The Minority caucus claims this represents an abuse of public resources for political gain, sparking widespread public concern about the integrity of local governance.

At the center of the allegations is the claim that Vida Dioretey handed over DRIP project equipment and a GH¢400,000 maintenance fund to the NPP candidate, who, according to the caucus, has no official role in the district assembly or its use of public resources.

Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Local Government and Rural Development Committee, expressed his disapproval of these alleged actions and called for prompt action from the OSP to hold the DCE accountable. He stated, “The NPP PC, what right has she got? Is the NPP PC a member of parliament? Is he the District Chief Executive? We are protesting about this and we have already petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor that that woman should be investigated and immediately punished for what she has done.”

Vanderpuye continued, “The total amount of money is almost about GH¢400,000 which is going to every district assembly for the management of the DRIP, and I don’t know why that woman will hand over the money and the machines to the PC who is contesting elections and who has nothing to do with these machines. When there is a sitting Member of Parliament, who sat in Parliament and approved this in the first place.”

The DRIP initiative aims to address essential infrastructure needs in district road networks, improve road accessibility, maintain critical transport routes, and support rural development. The Minority caucus insists that these resources should not be directed toward individuals campaigning for political office, especially those without any formal administrative role in local governance.