Gov`t retrieves 99 vehicles from ex-ministers

Retrieval of state owned vehicles from ex-Ministers and other former government officials in the immediate past New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration became a topical issue in Parliament yesterday, when deputy Minister of Information, Agyenim Boateng appeared in the House on behalf of Zita Okaikoi, the substantive Information Minister, to answer questions pertaining to his Ministry.

The government, according to the deputy Information Minister, has so far recovered 99 vehicles from the ex-Ministers and other officials. He told the House that the retrieved vehicles are currently in a pool and being used by the present government officials.

Hon. Agyenim Boateng was responding to a question from Mr. Frank Boakye Agyen, Member of Parliament for Effiduase Asokore, who wanted to know the status and number of vehicles recovered from former Ministers and other officials of the immediate past administration.

Giving the breakdown of the vehicles, the deputy Information Minister noted that; 61 of out of the retrieved 99 vehicles were saloon cars, 6 pick-ups, 26 4x4, 1 wagon and 2 buses. According to him, in-spite of the numerous calls to return state owned vehicles, some former Ministers and other officials still in possession of the vehicles have not returned them.

He read a document dated February 23rd 2005, and issued by then Chief of Staff, Mr. Kwadwo Mpianim outlining procedures with which state owned vehicles could be paid for by government officials, who have ended their service or are in compulsorily retirement from public service.

The age of such vehicles, according the deputy Minister should not be less than two years old and their fees should not create difficulties for the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), a situation he thinks was the best guiding principle for government officials who intend to purchase state vehicles.

He told the house that the returned vehicles were entitled to a refund and that all those who returned their vehicles have been fully reimbursed, except former Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Boniface Abubakar Saddique, whose cheque was ready but has not been collected. “My understanding is that, Mr. Abubakar Saddique's cheque is ready and he is yet to collect it for his vehicle,” he noted.

In a related development, Mr. Agyenim Boateng told the House on how the Information Ministry was working hard to improve television receptions at locations that have bad reception. He said the Engineering Division was undertaking a project of reconditioning the disused NEC TV transmitters into smaller power ratings (1000W-1500W), and install them at areas which are now being served with transposes.

The power he said is in the ranges of 20W- 120W but noted that so far the engineers have so far reconditioned two, where the first installation would be done next week in Obuasi. Other areas to be considered for such a programme when it becomes successful are Koforidua, Akosombo, Goaso, Cape Coast, Akim Oda, Drobo and Kade/Akwatia.

He also promised to install TV boosters to improve TV reception in the areas of bad signals such as Brong Ahafo