Members of Parliament are still waiting to receive the $20,000 car loan from government. While some claim the monies are being processed, others said they are negotiating with banks for loans to buy cars to facilitate their work. No Member of the House has received any payment in respect of the controversial loan.
Majority Chief Whip, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu explained that some MPs have been paying ?1.2.million since August last year to various banks to attract car loans. The packages have taken a long time and some MPs have almost given up asking for a return of their savings.
Akua Dansua, NDC MP for North Dayi supported the Majority Chief Whip by saying no MP has been paid any amount. Naa Afieye Ashong, MP for Kpong-Katamanso; Emmanuel Acheampong, MP for Gomoa East; Adu Yeboah NDC, MP for Agona East; and C.O. Nyanor, MP for Upper Denkyira all denied knowledge of any payment of $20,000.
“Government is supposed to provide us with transport but whether it will come in the form of a loan or gift we do not know,” said Acheampong. He said there is no Parliament in the world where the government does not provide vehicles to facilitate the work of MPs.
The Member for Effia Kwesimintim, Joe Baidoe Ansah, said a lot of Auto companies are lobbying Parliament with nice packages for the supply of vehicles but so far nothing has happened yet.
Public Agenda Editor, Ebo Quansah said categorically in a ‘Breakfast Show’ of the Ghana Television, that the controversial MP car loans have been paid, prompting renewed public interest in the issue. Asked to comment on his television utterance, Quansah said his information came through a member of the august House. He apologised for the embarrassment he might have caused Members of the Legislature.
When the news first broke that Members of Parliament were to receive loans of $20,000 to buy cars, there was public uproar forcing the government to put the programme on hold