Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, has described as hypocritical, the North Tongu MP's advocacy for the discontinuation of government guaranteed loans to purchase vehicles for MPs.
The North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in a post on Facebook urged his colleagues to get the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to withdraw the $28 million car loan agreement from Parliament.
Reacting to his comment, Mr Murtala said, "it is the height of hypocrisy and I have to say this about my brother. Okudzeto is not just a colleague Member of Parliament, myself and him have come a very long way. He has taken the loan two times. I went to Parliament with him at the same time when he took the car loan. In the Seventh Parliament, I wasn’t there but he took the loan.
He therefore, found his position regarding the car loan facility surprising.
Speaking on Beyond The Headlines on Joy Prime TV, Thursday, Mr Murtala asked, “so where is the principle in this? Since when did he realize that taking the car was unconscionable. Who is he trying to deceive? This is not a principled position."
The Finance Ministry, on July 7, presented to Parliament, a request by the government for a $28 million loan from the National Investment Bank, to finance the purchase of 275 vehicles for the members of the eighth Parliament.
The move received a lot of backlash from the general public insisting that the procurement of a loan facility for MPs amidst the prevailing economic hardships, is unacceptable.
Following the controversies surrounding the $28 million car loan, Parliament’s Finance Committee on Wednesday, July 14, recommended the discontinuation of periodic car loan procurement for MPs and the Council of State.
The Committee in a press statement suggested that the current $28 million car loan for Parliamentarians in the country should be the last of its kind.
According to the document, subsequent governments must provide official vehicles for Members of Parliament and Council of State members for use as enjoyed by other Article 71 office holders.
Latest Stories
-
CHAN 2024Q: Ghana’s Black Galaxies held by Nigeria in first-leg tie
27 minutes -
Dr Nduom hopeful defunct GN bank will be restored under Mahama administration
1 hour -
Bridget Bonnie celebrates NDC Victory, champions hope for women and youth
1 hour -
Shamima Muslim urges youth to lead Ghana’s renewal at 18Plus4NDC anniversary
2 hours -
Akufo-Addo condemns post-election violence, blames NDC
2 hours -
DAMC, Free Food Company, to distribute 10,000 packs of food to street kids
4 hours -
Kwame Boafo Akuffo: Court ruling on re-collation flawed
4 hours -
Samuel Yaw Adusei: The strategist behind NDC’s electoral security in Ashanti region
4 hours -
I’m confident posterity will judge my performance well – Akufo-Addo
4 hours -
Syria’s minorities seek security as country charts new future
5 hours -
Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo re-appointed as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana
5 hours -
German police probe market attack security and warnings
5 hours -
Grief and anger in Magdeburg after Christmas market attack
5 hours -
Baltasar Coin becomes first Ghanaian meme coin to hit DEX Screener at $100K market cap
6 hours -
EC blames re-collation of disputed results on widespread lawlessness by party supporters
6 hours