A member of government’s communication team, Alfred Thompson, has suggested that checks should be made on government vehicles that are being used for private businesses.
He stated that this will help identify vehicles which are being used to do other activities aside their tasked duties.
His comments follow reports of an ambulance with the registration GY 537-20, being noticed loading with cement by some young men in Kasoa.
Responding to the issue, the Ghana Ambulance Service said per their investigation,;the mechanic in charge of repairing the vehicle carried out that activity and not any of its members.
That notwithstanding, Mr. Thompson called for the Ambulance Service to sit up. He also called for the driver in charge to be questioned;for allowing the car to be used for such activities.
“If the ambulance has a problem, do you leave it with any mechanic or you take it to the source where you bought it from? These vehicles are a year old and I heard it has three years warranty. So, it really baffles me. What is going on?
Alfred Thompson
He urged all authorities, as well as citizens, to sit up to see to the proper use of these vehicles and other issues in that regard.
“That is why we’re asking for things to be fixed. Because this cannot be done by the government, President or by the Minister. Everybody needs to get involved. Let us rise up to the challenge and make sure that we are fixing it for the better of this country.”
Alfred Thompson
Irresponsible usage of resources, due to lack of supervision
A management consultant, Maxwell Ocansey Arthur, talking on the issue of irresponsible use of properties and equipment in the country, said the cause was due to lack of supervision.
He also averred that the nation has an issue with enforcement of both laws and punitive measures and as a result people get away with offences they commit.
“It boils down to supervision and also the attitude;that has been generated from the lack of supervision and also enforcement. I think we are too generous and lenient when people cause infractions. We tend to sympathize with them on the wrong. With some of these issues, outright disciplinary action should be taken against them or they either be dismissed.
“When an asset is entrusted into your hands, a national asset for national use for the benefit of the general good, and you don’t mind and think you can use it anyhow, I think the end product is for you to be relieved off whatever functions that you are performing.”
Maxwell Arthur
He averred that without strict supervision, enforcement and disciplinary actions, the nation might not progress in certain areas. also
Wrong work culture
Adding her voice to the conversation,;Susan Adu Amankwa was of the view that these operators of these ambulances can benefit from their work as drivers; and not necessarily having to do other activities with the cars.
“So, it’s arising out of a certain culture;and we are a people to who have bought into that fallacy where we believe that if you chastise somebody for doing wrong you hate that person. That’s the kind of fallacy that we’ve bought into.”
Susan Amankwah
She further indicated that these are some of the factors resulting in people mishandling properties. She explained that people in charge find it reluctant to punish people adding that citizens are also undisciplined and put themselves in these situations.
