The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) appears to be flouting a directive by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for all government agencies to put a freeze on the purchase of vehicles.

According to the 2017 Work Programme of the Corporation, it allocated GHS1.7milion of its budget to the procurement of additional logistics and vehicles.

This, according to some Members of Parliament is on the high side in view of the existing directive from the presidency.

Contributing to the debate on the Mines and Energy Committee’s report on the GNPC’s Work Programme in parliament on Wednesday, 2 August 2017, Deputy Ranking Member of the committee, Della Sowah decried the huge allocation made for the purchase of vehicles.

The Kpando lawmaker said: “Mr Speaker, President Nana Akufo-Addo said that there was a freeze on the purchase of vehicles and there was a letter from the Chief of Staff stating that the ban is in place until further notice.

“[But] Mr Speaker, I realise that they want to do a study on the Voltaian basin to find out how much hydrocarbon they have there, which is good news for Ghana and good news for Voltarians. However, GHS1.7million for vehicles is a little worrisome. I did a simple calculation. If it is Pick-Ups at a market price of $30,000 each, that is buying 66 Pick-Ups and I thought 66 new Pick-Ups for GNPC was a little on the high side.”