Defence Minister, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor (MP) has tasked the government to seek parliamentary approval for the 100 Peugeot cars it secured for the police service from the government of Nigeria as required by the Constitution.
But critics say that even though the Defence Minister who had been mentioned as instrumental in the acquisition had explained in a report of the Governance Committee presented to Cabinet in June last year that parliamentary approval was necessary because of the level of transaction, there is nothing to demonstrate that the authorities want to do the right thing.
The Defence Minister who is also chairman of the Committee suggested that the issue of the Peugeot cars and such other matters as the allegations of corruption and their cumulative effect on government call for quick response at the official level and at the party level to demonstrate the government?s commitment to zero tolerance for corruption.
The critics, almost all from the minority NDC, say Dr. Addo Kufuor?s suggestion to Cabinet is a tacit admission that in spite of the strenuous attempt to rationalize (as has been the bane for from government officials and even the president), a procedural error was committed in the transaction.
Minority Chief Whip, Edward Doe Adjaho, said he could not agree more with the position of the Defence Minister. He explained that he took the government on over the deal and rejected official explanations on why they could not wait for parliamentary approval for the cost and source of funding for the vehicles, suggesting thereby, that the Minority had been vindicated by the report of the Governance Committee.
The Member for Avenor was quick to point out however, that the Minority was not against the provision of the fleet for the Police Service for the maintenance of law and order but only insisted that the government follows the laid down procedures in such transactions as required by law.
?We recognized the fact that the Police Service even today needs more logistics to perform its duties efficiently,? ?but the provision of these logistics must not be at the expense of the rules and regulations governing this country.?
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) had since February 2002, tasked government to make details of the transaction with Nigeria for the importation available. That was after President Kufuor had handed over 50 of the cars to the police for patrol duties in the cities and highways, with a promise that more will be brought in soon. The NDC group in parliament wanted an explanation of the circumstances under which funds were secured for the purchase of the vehicles especially since the government claimed to be adherents of a policy of zero tolerance for corruption. This approach was, however, condemned by then Minister for Presidential Affairs, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey who insisted that the right forum for that issue was parliament other than the media.
Article 181 (1) of the 1992 Constitution states that, ?Parliament may, by a resolution supported by the votes of a majority of all Members of Parliament, authorize the Government to enter into an agreement for granting of a loan out of any public fund or public account.
(2) ?An agreement entered into under clause (1) of this article shall be laid before Parliament and shall not come into operation unless it is approved by a resolution of Parliament?
Clause 4 (a) of the same Article demands further ?that the terms and conditions of a loan be laid before Parliament and shall not come into operation unless they have been approved by a resolution of Parliament.?