ONLY last week we had occasion to express misgivings at the wanton disregard for and abuse of state property, especially by many of those into whose care such property has been entrusted by the people.
We are returning to the subject, specifically to the issue of state vehicles, in view of the serious concerns the public has expressed over the matter and the serious implications — political, economic and social — it has for our national development.
It is an undisputed fact that state property can legitimately be in the hands of people when it is properly authorised by an accredited official or officials.
Where such property is in the hands of people who lack the legitimacy to continue to do so, the authority vested with power to hold them in trust for the people has a duty to retrieve it and put it to public use.
It, therefore, goes without argument that any official, former or present, who is holding a state vehicle without due or proper authorisation does not even need anyone to remind him or her to return such a vehicle.
It is only right and proper to do so out of respect for one self and in compliance with the law.
Given the rather precarious nature of our economy, coupled with a huge deficit and the global economic crunch that constrains foreign inflows, it is the duty of the government, and indeed in the national interest, for every vehicle in wrong hands to be retrieved and properly allocated and utilised for the benefit of the nation.
It has been reported, for example, that some cars bought for over $50,000 are sold for $6,000 in less than two years outside what the regulations stipulate.
If the state has to spend additional funds to procure new cars for new ministers and other public servants to enable them to function, this will undoubtedly be an extra burden on taxpayers.
We believe this burden is not only unfair but also unnecessary and even avoidable.
Such funds could be used by the government to improve infrastructure in our hospitals, public schools and communities across the country to improve the standard of living of our people.
It will be in the national interest to retrieve the vehicles and the government can count on the support of the millions of fair-minded Ghanaians in this direction.
We would want to take this opportunity to call for a rethink of this policy of selling vehicles to government appointees and public officials at the end of their service, with the view to ensuring that the national interest, as opposed to the selfish private interests of a few individuals, prevails in the course of such transactions, if at all.
It does not make economic sense for the state to buy cars at $50,000 or more for ministers who keep them relatively idle for just a year or two and then turn round, under the guise of this policy, to buy them for as low as $6,000.
We are happy that since the ultimatum was given by the government for former government appointees holding state vehicles to return them, the response has been encouraging (see front page).
We would want to believe that not only will those who still have state cars in their possession return them immediately but also that we, as a people, will draw useful lessons from this needless car controversy so that the right things can be done in future in the supreme interest of the nation.
Present government appointees should bear this in mind.
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