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Ghana: Parliament Approves $7 Million to Buy Vehicles for Security Agencies
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Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra)
22 July 2008
Posted to the web 22 July 2008
Linda Akrasi Kotey
Parliament has approved an amount of $7 million, to finance the procurement of standardized operational vehicles, for the security agencies.
The report of the Joint Committee on Finance, Defence and Interior presented to the house, said the objective of the loan, was to purchase vehicles for the security agencies, to provide security during the forthcoming elections.
Contributing to the motion for the approval of the loan, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, described the loan as a wasteful spending of state resources, unnecessary, and a misplaced priority.
He argued that when the Electoral Commission was struggling to get cash for the elections, parliament must not sit and watch extravagant spending of state resources, whilst other sectors are suffering.
He noted that it was not the equipping of the police or army, that guaranteed a peaceful election, but how free, fair and transparent the election process would be.
Ayariga questioned what those vehicles would be used for after the elections, since the committee clearly stated in their report that it was for the December elections.
The Minister for the Interior, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufour, stated that the report of the committee, emphasised on elections, because it was the most significant activity for the year, but generally the facility was to equip the security agencies.
The committee noted that the procurement would involve 262 single cabin Nissan units, and 113 double-cabin Nissan units from Japan Motors.
The committee observed that the procurement would go a long way to improve peace and security during the general elections, as it would also enable security personnel to be more vibrant.
The committee observed that this procurement would go a long way to improve peace and security during the general elections.
Members expressed the view that there should be a standardization in the procurement of vehicles for the security services.
Subsequently, the Minister for Defence informed the committee, that as a way of ensuring some form of standardization, the Ministry consulted the security agencies, and decided on two vehicle models, namely Nissan and Toyota, as they are more durable and effective.
The committee has carefully considered the agreement, and was of the view that this was in the right direction.
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In view of this, the committee recommended that the House adopt its report.
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