Retract ‘misleading’ comment on our vehicles – MASLOC to Mahama
The Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) is demanding an immediate retraction of comments made by Former President John Mahama regarding some vehicles imported into the country for the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU).
“It is our expectation that having provided the former President with the actual facts concerning the mismanagement of the public funds in the procurement of the vehicles, he will see it necessary to take a second look and do what is noble and retract his unfortunate comment,” MASLOC stated in a statement signed by it’s Public Relations Manager, Fred Ohene Offei-Addo.
Some 350 vehicles, including buses, were procured in 2016 by the scheme through hire purchase for members of the GPRTU.
The vehicles are however not in use, following a disagreement over the prices.
On a recent tour of some bus terminals, the former President urged MASLOC to release the vehicles under an arrangement to members of the GPRTU.
In the statement, MASLOC indicated that the procurement of the said vehicles were shrouded with anomalies which the current administration is working hard to resolve.
“MASLOC views the call by the former President [Mahama] as very unfortunate, misleading and a calculated attempt to dodge the fact that his administration provided a conducive environment for the preparation of gross administrative anomalies.”
“We call on the former President to stop the propaganda while we remain focused in fulfilling our key mission of providing micro and small loans for start-ups and small businesses as well as to enhance job and wealth creation. MASLOC under President Akufo Addo has seen a major facelift in just two years in stark contrast to the debt wrapped institution inherited from the Mahama administration.”
The Chief Executive Officer of MASLOC, Stephen Amoah earlier described former President John Mahama’s call for some buses purchased under the MASLOC arrangement to be released to members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) as deceptive propaganda.
Mr. Amoah said he was shocked by Mr. Mahama’s comments and reminded that the challenges with the vehicle trace back to actions by the Mahama administration.
“…It is only deception and propaganda. With all respect, I beg him. He shouldn’t go on always saying these things.
There are concerns that the prices of some 350 vehicles procured by MASLOC’s Hire Purchase Scheme for members of the GPRTU in 2016 were grossly inflated.
Now, most of the vehicles lie idle because of the cost concerns.
“Because of the prices of the cars, people are not even ordering for them any longer from us. Only eight of the buses have been bought. For the small cars, because of uber, a few have been bought,” Mr. Amoah said to Citi News.
The suggestions of rot at MASLOC has seen its former Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Christine Tamakloe Attionu, charged with 78 counts of stealing and causing financial loss to the State.
She has however pleaded not guilty to the charges.