The most celebrated Member of Parliament, representing North Tongu on the ticket of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has called for the total withdrawal of the controversial loan facility to purchase Land Cruiser V8 for MPs for the 8th Parliament from Parliament.
NDC MP, known for his conviction and principles of responsibility to his constituents, has urged his fellow lawmakers to join forces to entreat Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to withdraw a US$28-million loan facility he recently tabled before parliament for consideration and approval as car loans for all 275 legislators.
Mr. Ablakwa on social media, asked his colleagues to “let us also boldly confront and discontinue the practice of government loans to purchase vehicles for MPs”.
He stated that, “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”.
He again called on the “government to stop the monthly deductions from MPs’ 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 MPs’ car loan agreement from Parliament”, he noted.
According to him, the ongoing controversy surrounding the loan has further put MPs under a very bad light and “MPs have been deliberately thrown under the bus and subjected to needless opprobrium one too many”.
The lawmaker warned that, if care is not taken the public anger could have dire consequence on Ghana’s democracy as he addressed his mind to the fact, “we must not underestimate the people’s grave revulsion and its volcanic consequences on the stability and sustainability of our democracy”,
He pointed out, Speaker Alban Bagbin “has been a longtime advocate for a uniform duty vehicle policy in the public sphere, which does not discriminate between Ministers, MMDCEs, CEOs, Judges and MPs”, adding: “I strongly believe we can count on his support as we pursue this mission”.
Mr Ablakwa said “deep reflection is needed on just how long the political class can keep stoking the anger levels of the masses beyond a boiling point?”
“Time to adopt a totally new and sincere paradigm”, the MP suggested.
Story filed by Edzorna Francis Mensah
