The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on MPs to discontinue the practice where car loans are provided to them by the government.
The former deputy Education Minister believes that the government must provide vehicles for MPs as it does for MMDCEs, CEOs of state institutions, ministers, judges and civil servants.
He added that if the government is unable to provide MPs with vehicles then MPs must be allowed to secure loans on their own without government intervention.
In a Facebook post, Mr Ablakwa said MPs have been deliberately thrown under the bus and subjected to needless opprobrium adding that MPs must come together and get the Finance Minister to withdraw the $28 million car loan agreement.
“As MPs, let us also boldly confront and discontinue the practice of government loans to purchase vehicles for MPs. If the executive branch of government does not have the resources to provide duty vehicles for MPs as it does for MMDCEs, CEOs of State Institutions/SOEs, Ministers, Judges, Civil Servants, Security Services, and so on and so forth, then MPs who need car loans should be allowed to make their own private car loan arrangements with the banks just as most private-sector workers do.”
Below is the full post by the North Tongu MP:
I have long held the view that the entire Article 71 emoluments regime is in urgent need of a major overhaul.
We need to demolish this apartheid superstructure and create a new condition of service framework for public officials which are more equitable, transparent, justifiable and acceptable to the people who employ us.
As MPs, let us also boldly confront and discontinue the practice of government loans to purchase vehicles for MPs. If the executive branch of government does not have the resources to provide duty vehicles for MPs as it does for MMDCEs, CEOs of State Institutions/SOEs, Ministers, Judges, Civil Servants, Security Services, and so on and so forth, then MPs who need car loans should be allowed to make their own private car loan arrangements with the banks just as most private-sector workers do. That will simply require that government stop the monthly deductions from MP’s salaries so we will be free to broker individual car loan deals based on our salary structure, constituency terrain and other personal preferences.
I honestly hope many colleague MPs will agree with me so we join forces and get Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to withdraw his MP’s car loan agreement from Parliament. MPs have been deliberately thrown under the bus and subjected to needless opprobrium one too many.
Fortunately, Rt. Hon. Speaker Bagbin has been a long time advocate for a uniform duty vehicle policy in the public sphere which does not discriminate between Ministers, MMDCEs, CEOs, Judges and MPs — I strongly believe we can count on his support as we pursue this mission.
Deep reflection is needed on just how long the political class can keep stoking the anger levels of the masses beyond a boiling point? We must not underestimate the people’s grave revulsion and its volcanic consequences on the stability and sustainability of our democracy.
Time to adopt a totally new and sincere paradigm.
