President Nana Akufo-Addo
President Nana Akufo-Addo has issued a strict directive prohibiting members of his government from acquiring their official vehicles as they end their tenure.
This is to break away from a practice that has been customary over the years.
A statement issued yesterday by Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications at the Presidency, emphasised: “The Office of the President reiterates the directive regarding the acquisition of official government vehicles by outgoing Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Regional Ministers, and other political appointees at the end of the current administration’s term in office.”
The statement recalled that a similar directive was issued at the conclusion of President Akufo-Addo’s first term in 2020, prohibiting ministers, deputy ministers, regional ministers, special assistants, special aides to the President and Vice President, and all other political appointees under the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463) from acquiring government vehicles.
It reminded all appointees of the outgoing administration that, this directive remains in full effect as the President’s second and final term nears its conclusion.
While previous administrations have permitted appointees to acquire one official saloon vehicle through valuation by the State Transport Company Limited, President Akufo-Addo explicitly stated that this practice would not apply under his government.
“No official vehicle shall be acquired by any appointee of the current administration as the term concludes,” the statement firmly declared.
The statement specified that “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.”
Additionally, the President directed that “all government vehicles in the possession of these appointees must be returned to the Chief Director of the relevant ministries no later than Friday, January 3, 2025.”
The Office of the President expressed its expectation of full cooperation from all appointees in adhering to this important measure.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent