$50,000 Car Loan For MPs

Parliament of Ghana

Parliament House was yesterday a beehive of marketing activities as an assortment of car dealership tried to catch the attention of MPs with their state-of-the-art automobiles in exchange for their $50,000 car loans.

The car dealers trooped to Parliament House following the approval of $50,000 for each MP by President Atta Mills.

The sleek cars were lined up in a manner as to attract the attention of the MPs whose vehicle loans are now ready for accessing at the banks.

The Presidential approval for the loan did not come easy as National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs, DAILY GUIDE has reliably learnt, virtually coerced President John Evans Atta Mills to approve the package.

The NDC MPs, particularly those who were denied ministerial and other appointments, threatened to rock the boat if the now approved package was short of their request.

Dreading what such a threat could do to his government, the President eventually conceded and the MPs had their day.

At the onset of the erstwhile NPP government, MPs were given $20,000 as car loans but the figure appreciated to about $30,000 four years ago.

Although figures for the leadership of Parliament is not available, it is expected to be higher than the above mentioned one.

Prominent at the display of cars were products like VW Touareg from Universal Motors, BMWs, Mercedes Benz and other top-notch automobiles.

Although approval for the loans was given three weeks ago, it was only yesterday that news about it hit town, immediately prompting the car dealership to move in to take vantage positions at the House of Parliament.

The car loans are intended to facilitate the movement of MPs to and from their constituencies and to Parliament.

The fine details of pre-accessing documentation and terms are being worked out but DAILY GUIDE has learnt that the beneficiaries would not be able to receive the amounts directly as the car dealers would be dealing with respective banks of beneficiaries.

The banks, when the contractual details are completed, would be responsible for payments directly to the dealerships.

Some MPs, it has been learnt, contemplate buying more than a car, considering the amount being made available. Some are ready to top it up in order to get higher models of some of the cars such as Toyota Land Cruiser Lexus, which is replacing the V8.

Fearing the high expectations from their constituents, some MPs have dismissed the idea being bandied around that the money is a form of largesse and not a loan.

One of the terms of the loans is that their ex-gratia, accessible at the end of the four year term of stewardship, would be considered as guarantee.

During the reign of the former government, the subject generated often abrasive arguments among Ghanaians and even those in the legislature, it would be recalled.

By A.R. Gomda