The Member of Parliament (MP) for Akuapem South constituency and a Deputy Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah has indicated that parliamentarians will not oppose any government policy to buy vehicles for legislators.
‘’If it becomes a government policy that vehicles will be bought for MPs to use, we will welcome such a policy, as it is done in other public agencies and after your tenure ends you leave the vehicle behind’’, he stressed.
The Finance Committee of Parliament has recommended that MPs and members of the Council of State should have duty post vehicle arrangements as other article 71 office holders such as members of the Executive and the Judiciary.
According to Mr O. B. Amoah, this will put to rest, the controversial issue of the State guaranteeing loans for MPs to acquire vehicles.
The Deputy Minister stated these on Freedom Radio’s ‘’Yen Man’’ show hosted by Kwaku Aboagye Apenteng when he spoke on the brouhaha surrounding the $28 million loan guaranteed by government to purchase 275 vehicles for legislators in the eighth Parliament.
The Akuapem South MP noted that vehicles of some MPs do not even last for four years due to the nature of roads and distance of their constituencies.
He reiterated that MPs would prefer government buying official vehicles for legislators for them to have their peace.
Mr O. B. Amoah explained that because this has not been done by successive governments, the Parliamentary Service Board has always decided to give car loans to MPs with government as the guarantor.
He stressed that after the car is delivered, the loan will then be deducted from MP’s salary till the end of their four-year term.
The Akuapem South lawmaker said as a result of this arrangement, the vehicle is always in the name of the MP and the government until full payment is made.
He said after four years, if an MP is not able to settle the loan, government will use all available means to ensure the lawmaker pays every pesewa before the vehicle is finally transferred to him or her.
