Parliament’s Finance committee has recommended a discontinuation of the current loan facility for MPs and members of the Council of State.
This decision was reached after the Finance Committee met on Wednesday July 14 to deliberate on the Finance Minister’s $28 million car loan facility to purchase vehicles for the Members of Parliament.
The committee in its recommendations yet to be put before the house says the MPs and members of the Council of State should have duty post vehicle arrangements as other article 71 office holders.
The committee also recommended that parliament and the parliamentary service takes the necessary steps to ensure that this happens.
It said the current loan agreement before the house for MPs and Council of State members should therefore, be the last the state is sponsoring.
This recommendation the committee said is born out of the public outcry and discontent raised by sections of the public as the loan agreement was laid before parliament.
The Committee’s report said “The committee took note of recent concerns expressed by many sections of the Ghanaian public about the burden the current vehicle loan arrangement for Members of Parliament and Members of the Council of State impose on the public purse.
“These legitimate concerns are fueled by the fact that, of all the Article 71 office holders, it is only members of Parliament and Members of the Council of State who benefit from these vehicle loans, a large part of which are re-paid by the state.
“The Committee took the view that, as representatives of the people, Members of Parliament cannot continue to leave these concerns unattended. That weakens the confidence Ghanaians have in us. We have a responsibility to reflect the values and ideals of the people we represent.
“Accordingly, the Committee strongly recommends to Parliament the discontinuation of the current vehicle loan arrangement for MPs and Council of State Members. Members of Parliament and Members of the Council of State should have similar duty post vehicle arrangements as other Article 71 office holders. And the Committee respectfully recommends that Parliament and the Parliamentary Service take the necessary steps to ensure that this happens. The instant vehicle loan arrangement for MPs and Council of State Members before us today should therefore be the last one the state is sponsoring.”
Source: 3news