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MASLOC vehicles rotting away, release them to GPRTU drivers – Mahama to gov’t

The NDC presidential candidate,  John Dramani Mahama has admonished the Akufo-Addo government to release buses purchased under the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) arrangement to members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU).

Some 350 vehicles, including buses, were procured in 2016 by the scheme through hire purchase for members of the GPRTU.

But the vehicles are however not in use following a disagreement over the prices.

Speaking on the matter during his tour of some bus terminals in Accra on Thursday, John Mahama said his administration will take look at the matter when voted back into office.

“The NDC procured some buses under MASLOC but there seem to be some pending issues and the buses are still there.  I will like to plead with the government to revisit that issue and asked those in charge to release the buses so that the drivers can use it to convey people around.  When the cars are not used, they begin to rot away after lying idle for so long.”

“Another issue raised by the drivers, is the insurance. They say the cost of car insurance has gone up. Some of them also mentioned the high cost of spare parts among other things.  At the appropriate time, the NDC will come around to discuss the best solutions with you. We will also come and tell you the plans we have for you in 2020 when we are elected”, he added.

The vehicles in question are parked at the National Security yard behind the Accra International Conference Centre.

There are claims that the GPRTU drivers have decided not to accept the cars because of what they suspect to be inflated cost.

They include 150 Chevy Aveo salon cars, 100 Chevy Sparklite Salon Cars and 100 33-seater Isuzu buses.

But authorities at MASLOC have maintained that the vehicles are in good condition but are selling at a rather slow pace.

Lawsuit

Former Chief Executive Officer of the MASLOC, Sedina Christine Tamakloe Attionu, was charged with 78 counts of stealing and causing financial loss to the State, a claim she has pleaded not guilty.

She was accused for signing a contract with Mac Autos on December 6, 2016, to supply MASLOC with 350 vehicles comprising 150 Chevy Aveo Saloon, 100 Chevy Sparklite and 33-seater Isuzu buses without any approval from PPA.

MASLOC then applied for a tax waiver on all the vehicles.

The unit price offered by Mac Autos to MASLOC for the Chevy Aveo was GH¢74,495 ($18,883.39). However, investigations revealed that the actual retail price Mac offered for the same model within the same year without duty was GH¢47,346.93 ($12,009.91).

The unit price offered for the Chevy Sparklite was GH¢ 65,095.00 ($16,500.63) when the actual price offered by Mac Autos within that same period without duty was GH¢35,918.37 ($9,104.77).

For the Isuzu 33-seater buses, the unit price offered to MASLOC was GH¢445,560 ($112,942.96) but the actual retail price without duty was GH¢293,877.55 ($74,493.67).

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