The intervention of the First Deputy Speaker, Mr. Edward Doe Adjaho, who conducted the business of Parliament yesterday, averted the anticipated tension that would have characterized discussions on the number of vehicles recovered from officials of the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration by the current government.
The NPP Member of Parliament for Effiduase Asokore, Mr. Frank Boakye Agyen, had asked the Minister of Information about the number of vehicles recovered from the NPP administration and the current status of the vehicles. The deputy minister of information, Mr. James Agyenim-Boteng, who stood in for the minister, informed the House that 99 vehicles were recovered from the former officials.
He explained that the vehicles made up of 64 saloon cars, six pickups, 26 four-wheel drives and two buses, among others, had been put in a pool for government officials. Mr. Agyenim-Boateng explained that some government officials who paid for their vehicles but which had been taken away from them had, had had their moneys paid back to them.
His assertion was however disputed by the NPP Member of Parliament for Bantama, Ms Cecilia Dapaah, who argued that the former Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr. Boniface Abubakar Saddique who paid for his car, which had been taken away from him, had not received his money back.
Mr. Agyenim-Boateng told the House tha the affected people were entitled to a refund and indicated that Mr. Saddique’s cheque was ready and advised him to collect it. He read a letter written by the former Chief of Staff, Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani, indicating that government vehicles which were not more than two years old should not be sold for their users. In the ensuring discussions which nearly degenerated into a shouting bout between the two sides, Mr. Adjaho had to come in intermittently to advice that MPs to discuss the issue devoid of politics.
