Ho, Jan. 22, GNA - Public opinion gathered by the Volta Star Radio, in a programme, titled "Volta Speaks" on Friday, indicate that the public is not in favour with the sale of government vehicles to ex-government appointees and called for its stoppage.

The topic for discussion for the one-hour programme was "Should duty cars be sold to ex-government appointees?"

A caller from Apegosu in the Eastern region argued that it is morally wrong to reward the ex-appointees with cars at give-away prices.

He said public and civil servants who serve the country in deprived rural areas for several years go on retirement with virtually nothing to show for their sacrifices.

Other callers who expressed similar sentiments said the package for the ex-appointees gives a wrong signal to the citizenry that politics is an easy way to acquire wealth, considering the limited time some of the ex-appointees served in office.

Some were of the view that the practice should be stopped because the country's financial situation is weak.

They argued that if the practice is maintained, future governments would have to import new cars to replace those given out to former government appointees.

It was also suggested that cars imported by government should be kept in a pool and allocated to public and civil service institutions like the police, which are facing serious shortage of vehicles.

The out-going government was also criticised for initiating the package, when it stopped the payment of end -of- service benefits to public and civil servants.

A caller said the manner in which the cars are being sold is hasty, adding that the ex-appointees should have declared their assets to ascertain their eligibility to purchase the vehicles.

Mr Kofi Danso from Kete- Krachi who contributed to the programme to the Radio programme noted that the sale of vehicles to public servants who go on retirement is in order but regretted that currently they are being sold at 'outrageous' prices.

Some callers said the sale of government vehicles to the ex-appointees is appropriate and the issue should not be dragged in a manner that seeks to impugn bad motives to the former government.