Ghana's President John Kufuor is said to be "furious" over a decision by MPs to give themselves $20,000 loans to buy new cars.
But President Kufuor is not alone. Many people who called into the countless phone-in programmes on Accra's dozen or so FM radio stations on Wednesday, also condemned the MPs for being concerned only about their comfort.
And their anger is directed to both the governing NPP and the three opposition parties in parliament because the deal has multi-party backing.
According to the arrangements, payment for the cars would be made directly from the MPs salaries from month to month.
The deductions have been pegged at around 1.2 million cedis, which leaves the MPs with no more than 100,000 cedis (about $15) for the rest of the month.
Corruption fear
No matter how tight-fisted Ghana's MPs may be, even if they worked at night as magicians, they still could not possibly make 100,000 cedis last them for more than a few days.
As a result, people are concerned that the arrangement could lead to what one senior official describes as "corruption borne out of need, but not of greed".
But the MPs say everyone is jumping to unwarranted conclusions.
One point, according to deputy majority chief whip George Kyei-Mensa, is that some MPs have not signed up to take the loan because either they cannot afford the monthly repayments, or that they already have cars they are perfectly happy with.
Those who take the money must have other sources of income to enable them keep up with the repayment schedule.
Another point, and this was articulated by Doe Adjaho who comes from the opposition NDC|, is that under the constitution, parliament, the judiciary and the executive all have equal power.
And yet, whereas ministers, judges and even senior civil servants get cars free from the state, MPs are paying for theirs.
The MPs believe they should be getting commendation, not condemnation.
The two words may sound alike, but the people and their president know the difference, and for now they are opting for the latter.
Ghana's President John Kufuor is said to be "furious" over a decision by MPs to give themselves $20,000 loans to buy new cars.
But President Kufuor is not alone. Many people who called into the countless phone-in programmes on Accra's dozen or so FM radio stations on Wednesday, also condemned the MPs for being concerned only about their comfort.
And their anger is directed to both the governing NPP and the three opposition parties in parliament because the deal has multi-party backing.
According to the arrangements, payment for the cars would be made directly from the MPs salaries from month to month.
The deductions have been pegged at around 1.2 million cedis, which leaves the MPs with no more than 100,000 cedis (about $15) for the rest of the month.
Corruption fear
No matter how tight-fisted Ghana's MPs may be, even if they worked at night as magicians, they still could not possibly make 100,000 cedis last them for more than a few days.
As a result, people are concerned that the arrangement could lead to what one senior official describes as "corruption borne out of need, but not of greed".
But the MPs say everyone is jumping to unwarranted conclusions.
One point, according to deputy majority chief whip George Kyei-Mensa, is that some MPs have not signed up to take the loan because either they cannot afford the monthly repayments, or that they already have cars they are perfectly happy with.
Those who take the money must have other sources of income to enable them keep up with the repayment schedule.
Another point, and this was articulated by Doe Adjaho who comes from the opposition NDC|, is that under the constitution, parliament, the judiciary and the executive all have equal power.
And yet, whereas ministers, judges and even senior civil servants get cars free from the state, MPs are paying for theirs.
The MPs believe they should be getting commendation, not condemnation.
The two words may sound alike, but the people and their president know the difference, and for now they are opting for the latter.
