Parliamentarians Get Car Loans

Despite the public outcry, which broke over the issue of car loans, Members of Parliament have been granted various sums of money ranging from $15,000 to $20,000 (120 - 160 million cedis) to purchase cars to facilitate their work. So far, various brands of cars, according to each MP’s specification or preference have been imported into the country. About 70 cars have been imported from India. Finance Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo confirmed that government has agreed to offer loans to the MPs to enable them to buy the cars.

According to him, it was agreed between the Speaker and leadership of Parliament as well as government that the state provides a loan of more than $20,000 to each member.

Under the agreement, any MP who will request a car that costs more than $20,000 is expected to provide the difference by himself or herself. It was also learnt that even before the MPs’ car issue broke out in November last year, a process was initiated to deduct an agreed amount from salaries of MPs towards the purchase of the cars.

According to the Minister, the MPs are expected to finish paying the loans before the end of their current term in January 2005. Even though he could not confirm how many cars have been bought so far and the amount of money involved, the Minster said more than 100 MPs have got their cars.

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