Only New MPs Should Get Car Loans - Dan Botwe

The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dan Botwe, has suggested that car loans be given to selected Members of Parliament who entered Parliament this year. He says MPs who were granted loans in 1993 and 1997 to acquire vehicles should not take any more loans.

Speaking on Joy FM, Mr Botwe said MPs who already have official vehicles by virtue of their positions as Ministers of State should also not be granted loans. He noted that this arrangement will end the public outcry against plans to grant each of the 200 MPs about $20,000 for vehicles.

In another development, Shipping magnate, Alhaji Asumah Banda, has called for a national debate on the conditions of service for government officials and Members of Parliament. His suggestion comes in the heat of the raging debate over plans to grant the 200 MPs a total amount of $4 million in car loans.

Speaking on JOYFM's Super Morning Show, Alhaji Banda, who is also a leading member of the Convention People’s Party said instead of Parliamentarians deciding for themselves the ordinary citizens of the land should decide on appropriate conditions of service for the lawmakers.

Alhaji Banda said instead of clamouring for vehicles, the parliamentarians should ask for money to build their constituency office, adding that parliament is not a place for amassing wealth.

A leading member of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Kofi Wayo, said President Kufuor should demonstrate his commitment to ‘zero tolerance for corruption’ by dismissing those officials who seem to have by-passed Cabinet to approve $4 million car loan deal.