..... Just One Month In Office
Minister for Fisheries, Hon Afoley Quaye, has bought a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser V8 within one month in office.
This is shocking development considering the ministry already has two V8 Land Cruisers, 2014 and 2015 models available for her use.
Daily Democrat checks reveal that the two vehicles left behind by her predecessor are in very good condition.
The minister's decision to go for an additional luxurious vehicle soon after taking office raises serious questions about the Akufo-Addo government's mantra of competence in managing public purse.
The paper has also found out that there was no budgetary allocation for the procurement of the said vehicle by the fisheries ministry for 2017.
This brings back memories of the then NPP running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia's campaign rhetoric of how such reckless spending by the executive hurt the ordinary people of Ghana.
One could still hear the echoes of Bawumia's claims as to the monumental benefits the people of Ghana would have enjoyed from the money used by the fisheries minister in buying such a highly expensive vehicle, which from all indications she does not necessarily need at this time.
Bawumia would have indicated how many boreholes, school blocks and other social amenities the public would have benefitted from such an amount instead of the fisheries minister wasting it on another vehicle she obviously does not need.
The paper has also found out that the minister’s new vehicle with registration number GT 8155-17, black in colour, is driven by her personal driver.
Daily Democrat can also state that there are serious questions regarding the processes that were followed in procuring the new minister's new vehicle, as due process appear to have been flouted in the minister’s quest to acquire and ride in a luxury vehicle, like an Arabian princess.
The public financial management Act, 2016 (Act 921) indicates a clear objective in ensuring due processes are followed in the utilization of the public purse in consonance with the constitutional provisions within an established framework.
It outlines processes for the preparation, approval and management of a transparent, credible and predictable annual budget.
The Act imposes responsibilities on public officers to exercise their powers in accordance with the Act and the regulations.
That the paper’s sources revealed that the ministry has no provision for the purchase of the minister’s new vehicle in the 2017 budget, it is mind boggling as to the urgency for the rush purchase.
According to one source, "This is a mere waste of state funds and gross display of incompetence."
There are lingering doubts as to whether the deal received approval from the entity tender committee per the Procurement Law when Parliament has not passed the ministry’s appropriation Bill?
Stay tuned.
