The North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on his fellow MPs to oppose the practice where government facilitates loans for MPs to purchase vehicles.

Instead of government facilitating the loans, he said MPs should be able to secure their private loans just like anyone else.

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“If the executive branch of government does not have the resources to provide duty vehicles for MPs as it does for MMDCEs, CEOs of State Institutions/SOEs, Ministers, Judges, Civil Servants, Security Services, and so on and so forth, then MPs who need car loans should be allowed to make their own private car loan arrangements with the banks just as most private sector workers do.”

“That will simply require that government stops the monthly deductions from MP’s salaries so we will be free to broker individual car loan deals based on our salary structure, constituency terrain and other personal preferences,” Mr. Ablakwa said in a statement.

There is a loan agreement for $28 million to Parliament for the purchase of vehicles for the 275 legislators in Parliament that has prompted public criticism.

Based on the amount, each MP is expected to receive over $100,000 for the purchase of a vehicle.

Government is expected to pay 60 percent of the loan with all the accrued interest whereas MPs will pay for just 40 percent of the loan.

Mr. Ablakwa feels the MPs have “been deliberately thrown under the bus” in the matter.

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“I honestly hope many colleague MPs will agree with me so we join forces and get Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to withdraw his MP’s car loan agreement from Parliament.”

Ultimately, Mr. Ablakwa said entire Article 71 emoluments regime was “in urgent need of a major overhaul.”

“We need to demolish this apartheid superstructure and create new conditions of service framework for public officials which are more equitable, transparent, justifiable and acceptable to the people who employ us.”

The Finance Committee of Parliament is expected to consider the loan agreement and report to the House.