Member of Parliament for Bole Constituency, Yussif Sulemana, has suggested to government to provide the MPs with vehicles and take after their tenure in office.
Speaking on the Finance Ministry’s presentation on a loan agreement for US$28 million to Parliament for the purchase of 275 vehicles for lawmakers, he said that in a situation where MPs will be taking a loan which will be deducted from their salaries will become a burden.
“That way will be better than even taking a loan. Because when this loan is taken, my salary will be deducted for four good years and that puts so much burden on me. And so, when the public is not informed, and the public is not concerned about what ministers and CEOs are given in terms of transportation arrangement, this is the outcome that we will get.
“It is important for us to tell them and of course listen to the general public on what other alternatives do they have for MPs.”
Yusif Sulemana
MPs should speak on the issue
Mr. Sulemana further called on his fellow MPs to speak on the issue regarding the $28 million government has approved to help procure vehicles for their movement.
“My colleague MPs should speak to this issue; we should not run away from the feedback we are getting from the general public. I am saying this because I do not see anything wrong with what is happening currently. As Members of Parliament,;we are supposed to be in charge with our constituents and you will agree with me that as and when there are programs and activities, we are invited to join our constituents.
“I am coming from Bole Bamboi and looking at the distance. One would have thought that government would give me a vehicle when anytime I am coming,;they give me fuel and when my tenure ends as an MP,;I leave the vehicle for government and go my way. Because that is what is happening to all ministers including deputy ministers. District Chief Executives are given vehicle and fuel,;CEOs of state organizations are given fuel, they are given vehicles, V8 and some salon cars.”
Yussif Sulemana
He lamented that regardless of all that is being provided for the various state organization heads amongst others, some MPs are not enjoying same.
Use $28 million to provide health facilities
Also commenting on the issue,;Professor Ransford Gyampo, an associate professor at the University of Ghana has kicked against a US$28 million loan facility to purchase vehicles for MPs.
He was of the view that such expenses are needless;when most health facilities in the country such as the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital are facing challenges.
“On the loans for MPs to procure new vehicles,;this is sad and only goes to typify our feature as extravagant poor people. Some public officials purchase second-hand vehicles that are 10 years old and;still pride themselves with the “newness” of such vehicles which they call “brand new second-hand”. Other public officials keep their official vehicles for four years and purchase them at a pittance afterwards.
“If loans can truly be sourced for this very wastefully needless purpose of buying brand new vehicles,;such a facility must be given to the Korlebu Teaching Hospital to procure needed health infrastructure,;and bills of patients who go to use such facilities to defray the loan.”
Prof Gyampo
