Savannah Regional Minister Saeed Muhazu Jibril has dismissed concerns raised by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the branding of District Roads Improvement Project (DRIP) machinery with posters of New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidates.

In response to a petition from the NDC, Mr. Jibril argued that the branding should not be an issue, citing similar actions under the erstwhile Mahama-led-administration, such as the branding of buses and laptops, which did not prompt complaints from the NPP at the time.

The NDC in the Savannah Region had petitioned the Minister, demanding the removal of NPP posters from the DRIP equipment within three days, threatening to brand the machinery in NDC colours if their request was not met.

Addressing the petition, Mr. Jibril asserted that the machines were procured by the government in power and that the NDC had no right to dictate how they should be used or branded. He emphasised that the equipment is available for use by anyone in the district, including opposition MPs, for the development of the area, but insisted that the NPP would not remove its posters.

“The NPP in power will not take off any poster since it is under them that the equipment came into existence,” he stated.

Mr. Jibril further criticised the Member of Parliament for the Salaga South Constituency, accusing her of misleading her constituents by claiming that the machines were bought with the MP's share of the common fund, a claim that led to a violent clash between NDC and NPP supporters, resulting in multiple injuries.

In response to the NDC's ultimatum, Mr. Jibril remained firm, stating: "It is never going to happen. Anyone who tries to tamper with the equipment will have themselves to blame."

Meanwhile, the NPP in the Savannah Region has condemned the NDC's complaints as baseless. NPP Secretary Mohammed Issah criticised the NDC for their "wanton disregard for law and order" and challenged the party to account for their use of the common fund since 2017.

Mr. Issah further taunted the NDC, stating: "We are daring the NDC to carry out their empty threat of putting NDC posters on any of the equipment, and we shall see who truly owns the equipment. That's when you will see limbs flying in the air, trust me."

The NDC had earlier warned that they would resort to branding the equipment in their party colours if the NPP did not comply with their demands, urging immediate action from the Savannah Regional Minister, the Yagbonwura, the Regional Police Command, and the NPP leadership.