Car dealers
storm Ghana’s Parliament over GH¢50,000 loan
Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot
Accra, June 21, Ghanadot -
Following Ghana’s President, Professor John Evans Atta
Mills’ approval of a GH¢50,000 loan to be sourced for each
of the 230 Members of Parliament (MPs) for the purchase of a
vehicle, various vehicle dealers stormed Parliament House of
Ghana.
A visit by Ghanadot on Friday to Parliament saw dealers in
automobiles, actually in anticipation of the President’s
gesticulation, have turned the forecourt of Parliament House
into an exhibition centre and a trade fair for a variety of
vehicles, including saloon cars, cross country vehicles and
pick-ups, to attract the attention of the MPs.
Some of brand of vehicles on display within the precincts of
the House are Nissan, Volkswagen (VW), Toyota, Ford, Honda,
Skoda, etc.
Attractively, the dealers are not prepared to disclose the
price range of their vehicles, as they are competing to get
a good deal from the MPs.
The GH¢11.5 million package was, however, not what the
legislators had bargained for.
The Majority leader, Mr. Alban Bagbin, had earlier indicated
that MPs would insist on being given official cars by the
state, as in the case members of the Executive and
Judiciary; but that apparently did not materialize.
Mr. Bagbin told the Ghanadot on Friday June 19, that
Parliament had already started negotiations with two banks
in Ghana, namely the Amalgamated Bank and Fidelity Bank to
secure the loans for the legislators which are expected to
be secured at the prevailing market rate.
Meanwhile, the MPs are expected to pay the loans over their
four-year terms, while Under the arrangement, those who are
unable to complete the payment will have to use part of
their ex gratia to pay the rest or find money from some
where else to pay.
Ghanadot
