CHRAJ Investigates Car Loans For MPs

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice is awaiting responses from Parliament on its preliminary report on findings into investigations into loans advanced to Members of Parliament in the last three Parliaments since 1992.

The investigations were called for by a Ghanaian University Lecturer in America, Prof Asare who petitioned the Commission about a year and a half ago following the 20,000-dollar car loans advanced to MPs in the current Parliament.

Prof Asare’s petition questioned the loans to of all three Parliaments of the 4th Republic and described it as a “raid on the Consolidated Fund”. He questioned the basis of the loans saying they were gifts disguised as loans because the MPs were in no position to pay them back to the state.

Prof Asare is asking for a differentiation of the facility advanced the MPs as a loan, a subsidized loan or a gift. A year and a half after Prof Asare’s petition, some MPs on Monday, told JOY FM that they will be unable to repay the loans if their $300 monthly salary is not reviewed.

CHRAJ Commissioner, Justice Emile Short says responses from Parliament on the loans are expected over the next two weeks. He told JOY FM that the feedback to CHRAJ’s findings would complement its report to be made public subsequently.