News:
July 16, 2021
Members of Parliament have unanimously rejected the current car loan arrangement meant to procure vehicles to enable them effectively carry out their duties as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.
While the House approved an amount of Twenty-Eight Million United States Dollars (US$28,000,000.00) to finance the Purchase of Vehicles for members of the 8″ Parliament [2021 to 2024], they resolved not to accept the current arrangement going forward.
A Finance Committee report on the Medium Term Loan Agreement among the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Finance, Members of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana [2021 to 2024] and the National Investment Bank Limited for an amount of Twenty-Eight Million United States Dollars (US$28,000,000.00) to finance the Purchase of Vehicles for members of the 8″ Parliament [2021 to 2025], recommended Discontinuation of the Vehicle Loan Arrangement for MPs and Members of the Council of State.
The recommendation according to the committee arose from recent concerns expressed by many sections of the Ghanaian public about the burden the current vehicle loan arrangement for Members of Parliament and Members of the Council of State impose on the public purse. “These legitimate concerns are fueled by the fact that, of all the Article 71 office holders, it is only Members of Parliament and Members of the Council of State who benefit from these vehicle loans, part of which are re-paid by the state.”
An all-embracing debate on the recommendation on the floor of the House on Thursday, July 15, 2021 saw all the MPs agreeing to the recommendation since many argued that the current arrangement was rather putting burden on them.
The MPs rather called for fair treatment like all Council of State Members. “Members of Parliament and Members of the Council of State should have similar duty post vehicle arrangements as other Article 71 office holders have.”
With the new arrangement, Government would have to bear the full cost of the vehicles, maintenance, fueling, insurance as well as employ drivers for the MPs.
Dominic Shirimori/Ghanaps.com