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Liberia: New Policies for GOL Vehicles, Coupons
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The Inquirer (Monrovia)
3 April 2008
Posted to the web 3 April 2008
Patrick K. Wrokpoh
The General Services Agency (GSA) has been providing explanation over the new vehicle policy, which was recently adopted by the Liberian government when the cabinet met at a three-day retreat held in Voinjama, Lofa County.
According to the GSA, the new policy grew out of the issue of the procurement of vehicles for the use of government ministries and agencies in fulfilling their respective mandate but due to financial constrains, there was not enough money in the government's budget to purchase government's vehicles.
Speaking to this paper on Tuesday at the GSA office on the UN Drive, when he provided detail explanation on the new policy, the Deputy Director General of the GSA for Operation, Mr. Augustus Major, said the various government ministries and agencies, proposed to the government that it should focus on the purchase of brand new cars and avoid purchasing used cars so as to prevent the high cost of maintenance that government has been undergoing.
Mr. Major said it was predicated upon this that the various ministries and agencies got together and requested the President, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for consideration to allow them purchase used vehicles within the confines of their budget.
He said before this was approved by the President, she requested the GSA to do a study and find out the best way possible so as to derive at a framework where the purchase of government's vehicle can be done with the aim of protecting the government's interest.
Mr. Major, said it was predicated upon this backdrop that the entire idea of the formulation of the Government Used Car Policy, which according to him is a sub-set of the National Fleet Management Policy was formulated.
Dwelling on what the Fleet Management Policy is all about, Mr. Major said this is the policy that will embrace all government vehicles including the brand new and old ones; the categories of vehicles to be purchased by the GOL; protocol governing the use of government's vehicles, who are allowed to drive these vehicles among others.
He said National Fleet Management Policy is a very comprehensive policy that would cover all the aspect that has to do with maintenance, management of government vehicles among others.
Asked when it would come into effect, Mr. Major said by this July and that the GSA will be working with the Liberian National Police (LNP) to have this enforced. He appealed to the various government ministries and agencies to also support the initiative as it is intended to save government's money by streamlining government operation that would make it effective, cost effective, very functional and to also maximize government's funding.
According to him, there will be a set of rules for violators of the policy but the GSA would want to do things in a way that will encourage cooperation by making sure that people are well educated.
Asked on the number of vehicles that the government currently has, Mr. Major said government has a total of 1,257, mobile equipment which include vehicles and motorcycles. Out of this amount, he said 900 are vehicles while the balance, are motorcycles.
On the issue of gas coupon for the government vehicles, Mr. Major declined to comment further, on grounds that the matter was undergoing what he called, "An intensive research process."
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He said the GSA is finding ways to cut cost for the government when it comes to streamlining fuel oil consumption. He said at the moment, there is a policy document that is nearly completed but right now, the GSA cannot comment because it has not got the green light from President Sirleaf to divulge any information of such.
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