Parliament approves $86m loan for purchase of armoured vehicles for Ghana Armed Forces

Parliament has approved an $86 million loan facility from Israel for the purchase of armoured vehicles for the Ghana Armed Forces.

This ensued amid calls by the minority, for the house to alter processes to allow the approval to be executed in camera.

Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak said the minority had concerns about the purchase.

According to him, the delicate nature their concerns with regards to the security framework called for a closed-door sitting as earlier agreed with the Defence Minister.

But his proposal was subsequently declined. But Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu insisted a backroom conversation has gone on among leaders of both sides to allow for the approval to be done in public adding that MPs will be measured in their comments.

Chairman of Parliament’s Finance Committee Dr Mark Assibey Yeboah moved the motion for approval of the facility.

Speaker Prof. Mike Ocquaye said the debate will go on in public, but he will stop MPs if they go overboard.

The loan facility was agreed between the Ghana government, represented by the Finance Ministry and the Israel Discount Bank Limited for an amount of $74 million and a separate one of $12 million.

Source:Fiilafmonline/JoyNews