200 cars vanish under Mahama; sold for 'chicken feed' to cronies

Accusation that the erstwhile government led by ex-President John Dramani Mahama was marred with many corrupt practices may not be far from the truth, as it has emerged that, out of the 234 missing state vehicles, almost 200 have been found with ex state officials.

This is in spite of former President John Dramani Mahama, General Secretary Asiedu Nketia and NDC apparatchiks’ shrill and pervasive accusations of corruption on the part of functionaries of the ruling administration which they are failing to channel to the right sources for arrests and prosecutions.

The vehicles, designated for the office of the President, the National Security and the Judicial Service, included Toyota Avensis, Honda ST1300Ps’, Ford Fusions, Nissan Navara Pick-Ups, Toyota Avensis, Toyota station Wagons (both Land cruisers and Prados), Hyundai County 34st Buses, Mercedes Benz E250, Ivecos, Yamahas, Nissan Patrols, Isuzus, Toyota Hiluxes, and Tricycles.

Interestingly, a day to the current government’s investiture, letters signed by the former Chief of Staff, Honorable Julius Debrah, directed that those vehicles belonging to the three institutions be transferred into names of some public officials as their end of year benefits.

A quick valuation was, however, conducted by the State Transport Corporation, giving the green light on 4th January, 2017 for the vehicles to be auctioned.

Some of the beneficiaries, according to documents intercepted by Free Press scouts, indicated that Dr. Dominic A. Ayine, former deputy Attorney General, paid GHC23, 200 for a Toyota Avensis, 2012 model, with registration number GV 1023-13, while Dr. Hanna Louisa also got a Toyota Avensis Salon Car, with Chassis number ABLBL76LX0E042306, and registration number UE 167-16 at the cost of GHC14, 350.00.

Hon. Eric Opoku also paid just 7,000 cedis for a Toyota Avensis with Chassis No. 5B1BL7520E005008, and with registration number GN 982-09.Hon. Samson Ahi, who grabbed another Toyota Avensis with Chassis number SB1BL76L40E038073 and registration number GV 1026-14, paid a paltry 29, 000.00 after clearance from the Intercity STC Coaches Limited.

Others also included Hon. Yaw Effah-Baafi, Hon. Baaba Jamal, Hon Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Hon Alfred Ekow Gyan, Benita Sena Okity-Duah, Joyce Bawa Mogtagri, Hon Alhassan Fuseini, Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare, Hon Bernice Adiku, and Dr. Hannah Bissiw among others, paying between 14,000-29,000 cedis for Toyota Avensis, with prices depending on the vehicle’s year make.

More so, checks conducted at the Office of the President have also indicated that over 40 tricycles purchased before leaving office were also given to cronies and party die-hards for chicken feed.

Readers will recall from government’s declaration that it received a list of 707 state vehicles from the former National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, but could still not locate 234 vehicles, and further accused them of illegally appropriating state vehicles to its officials after they lost power in the 2016 polls.

Nii Ayikoi Otoo who was the Chairman of the Executive Assets Subcommittee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Transition Team has said the list of 707 included 176 V8s, 53 Toyota Land cruiser Prados, Saloon vehicles and ambulances.