No acquisition of official govt vehicles by appointees – President

 The Office of the President yesterday reminded govern­ment appointees of existing prohibi­tion of acquisition of official government vehicles by outgoing Ministers, Deputy Minis­ters, Regional Ministers and other political appointees at the end of the term of office of the current administration.

It recalled that at the conclusion of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s first term in 2020, a directive was issued prohibiting Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Re­gional Ministers, Special Assistants, Special Aides to the Office of the President and Vice President, and all other political appointees under the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463) from acquiring govern­ment vehicles.

According to the statement the directive remained in full effect as the government approached the end of the President’s second and final term.

The press statement signed by the Director of Communications at the Presidency said while past administrations had adhered to a convention allowing appointees to acquire one official saloon vehicle through valuation by the State Transport Company, President Akufo-Addo had reiterated that the practice would not be applica­ble under his administration.

“No official vehicle shall be acquired by any appointee of the current administration as the term concludes.

“For clarity, all Ministers of State, Deputy Ministers, Region­al Ministers, Special Assistants, Special Aides to the President and Vice President, and other political appointees, including those serving as Chairpersons or Members of Statutory Boards and Corpora­tions, are required to comply strict­ly with this directive,” it said.

It directed that all government vehicles in the possession of the appointees be returned to the Chief Director of the relevant Ministries no later than Friday, January, 3, 2025.

“This directive underscores the President’s commitment to accountability and the responsible management of state resourc­es. The Office of the President anticipates the cooperation of all appointees in adhering to this important measure,” the statement concluded.

 BY TIMES REPORTER