‘Missing cars’ saga widespread – Obiri Boahen

The Deputy General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has said the issue of missing cars being complained about by government is not limited to the Flagstaff House, but several other state institutions.

He said the government asset task force aims at retrieving every state vehicle still with ex-government officials, noting that the saga of missing vehicles is widespread.

The presidency on Wednesday alleged that over 200 vehicles from the state pool at the presidency cannot be accounted for following the exit of the Mahama government.

The composition of the task force which includes the Ghana Police Service, Bureau of National Investigations, the Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs Division), the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority and Office of the President drew fierce criticisms from a section of the Ghanaian Public, especially members of the previous government—the NDC.

The task force was put up days after some security personnel raided the residence of the National Organiser of the NDC, Kofi Adams, seizing five cars. The leadership of the NDC  subsequently warned that it would resist any attempt to intimidate its members in the name of trailing and recovering alleged looted state assets.

Mr. Boahen however noted in an interview on Morning Starr with Nii Arday Clegg  Friday that there was nothing wrong with the government’s “asset” taskforce. “What is wrong if a task force is set up to retrieve vehicles belonging to the state,” he asked,  adding that “you people are thinking of vehicles which were at the presidency. When we talk of vehicles belonging to the state,  for instance if a vehicle belongs to the Sunyani Municipal Assembly and it is in the custody of an individual,  it is a vehicle belonging to the state.”

“They [critics] should not concentrate only in Accra. The purpose of the task force is to assist to retrieve vehicles to the state. People should spare us this unnecessary accusations and criticisms,” thundered Mr. Boahen.