Ex-Ministers ordered to pay differences in car prices

An Accra High Court on Friday ordered four ex-Ministers and 15 others to pay to the court the difference between what they paid for their official vehicles, which were sold, to them on leaving office and the official valuation.

Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, an Appeal Court Judge sitting as an additional High Court Judge who gave the order, however, said the stipulated time within which the monies will have to be paid will be made known at the next adjourned date.

She asked the Attorney General's Department to furnish the court with particulars of the valuation on Wednesday, February 28, the next adjourned date, so that the ex-Ministers could be informed as to how much to pay, and the time to pay.

Following a government directive on January 24 asking former officials to either pay the difference or return the cars within one week, the four former ministers filed a suit challenging the legal basis of the order.

The four are Mr Martin Amidu, former Deputy Attorney-General, Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, former Minister of Regional Co-operation and Integration, Mr Mike Gizo, former Minister of Tourism and Mr Mike Hammah, former Deputy Minister of Roads and Transport.

They contended that the President's order was unlawful since they had a contractual agreement with the State to buy those cars at concessionary rates.

Not satisfied with the action of the former ministers, the Attorney General's office filed a counter-motion asking the court to order the preservation and detention of the cars.

Contending that there exists a valid contract, the former ministers asked the court for an interim injunction to restrain the government from seizing the vehicles pending the final determination of the substantive suit.

At today's sitting, the four ex-Ministers disclosed the identities of the 15 others involved in the suit in compliance with the court's order on Thursday.

The 15 include Professor Kwaku Danso Boafo, Mrs Cecilia Johnson, Mr Sylvester Azantilow, Mr Mumuni Abudu Seidu, Mr Steve Akorli and Mr Amos Buertey.

Others are Professor Patrick Addy, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Mrs Rebecca Addotey, Mr David Sarpong Boateng, Mr K. S. Akyeampong and Mr Daniel OheneAgyekum.

The rest are Mr Alex B. Akuffo, Mr Enoch Teye Mensah and Mr Simon Abingya.

The substantive case has been fixed for March 29, a day after the Supreme Court ruling on Mr Amidu's suit against the President challenging the legality of certain appointments made without prior consultation with the Council of State.