March 11, 2016

Ghana’s stable economy is vital than cars - NPP activist
Audrey Micah, Ghanadot

Accra, May 5, Ghanadot - The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on the Mills administration to focus on rescuing the nation from its sorry state rather than getting obsessed with reclaiming cars from NPP officials.

Nana Akomea, former Minister of Youth and Employment of the NPP administration, challenged the government to state in clear terms whether it is using the policy that permits retiring public officials to buy their official cars.

“And if they are, they should state whether it will take retroactive effect,” he noted.

He said it will be in the interest of the NDC government and that of the nation if they concentrate on the economy and finds essential ways to ensure that the country is safe for business, adding that wasting the time of Ghanaians on retrieving cars from ex-officials will not help Ghana in any way.

Nana Akomea was not the least amused with an ultimatum issued by the Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, for ex-government officials to return their cars.

He advised Okudzeto Ablakwa to “tone down” his language, adding that under no circumstance has any government officials from the NPP administration burgled any state property and neither were they criminally and illegally holding on to state vehicles.

According to him, ex-government officials in applying the option to buy their vehicles, like former NDC officials did in 2001, were in discussion with government and had arrived at different stages of the process, until a directive was issued by the government's transition team for them to hold on with negotiations.

Nana Akomea said many ex-government officials purchased their vehicles after leaving office in 2001, with some of the vehicles aged less than two years, contrary to stipulations.

“The car Mrs Amoako Nuamah was using was 2000 model but she was allowed the option to purchase it and she paid GH¢800.00 for it,” he disclosed.

The former minister recounted instances in 2001, where the then outgoing NDC government officials paid meager amount for their vehicles after the Chief of Staff further reduced by 30 per cent.


He was surprised how government was able to revalue cars that were still in the possession of ex-appointees, adding that they are prepared to hand over the vehicles if that is what will keep the economy moving.

Ghanadot