The Ranking Member on Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Samuel Atta Mills, has criticised Ghana's Ministry of Health over its alleged failure to recover about GH¢10 million in car loans. He described the arrangement as "organised crime". Mr Atta Mills made these remarks when Ministry officials appeared before the PAC on October 8, 2026, to address concerns over vehicles provided to officials under a car loan arrangement.
According to Mr Atta Mills, some beneficiaries who did not qualify to drive official vehicles based on their salaries were provided with cars under arrangements that allowed them to determine when and how they would repay the loans. He questioned the rationale behind this arrangement and expressed concern over the Ministry's approach to recovering outstanding amounts from beneficiaries.
The Ranking Member also raised concerns about beneficiaries who have either retired from public service or died without fully settling their car loans. He demanded a comprehensive list of such beneficiaries, suggesting that some vehicles could still be in the possession of relatives despite outstanding payments. Mr Atta Mills called on the Minister of Health to take immediate steps to recover the outstanding vehicles and funds.
Mr Atta Mills rejected an explanation that the list of beneficiaries or vehicles had been forwarded to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA). He questioned why the DVLA should be expected to resolve a matter that originated from the Ministry of Health. According to him, responsibility for recovering the vehicles rests primarily with the institution that provided them.
The PAC Ranking Member called for the establishment of a dedicated recovery unit or team within the Ministry to pursue beneficiaries who have failed to honour their obligations. He suggested that a dedicated recovery team should be empowered to identify vehicles and take steps to retrieve them where necessary. Mr Atta Mills argued that the Ministry must take stronger measures to retrieve vehicles where beneficiaries obtained them without meeting the applicable requirements or have failed to repay the associated loans.
The confrontation at the Public Accounts Committee highlights concerns over the management and recovery of government-backed vehicle loans, particularly where beneficiaries have retired, died or allegedly failed to meet repayment obligations. The Ministry's approach to the car loan arrangement and its failure to recover outstanding amounts have been criticised as irresponsible.
The issue has sparked concerns about the management of public funds and the accountability of government institutions. The Minister of Health has been urged to take immediate action to address the situation and recover the outstanding vehicles and funds.
Key points
- Ministry of Health accused of 'organised crime' over GH¢10 million car loan debt.
- PAC Ranking Member calls for dedicated recovery team to pursue beneficiaries who have failed to honour their obligations.
- Ministry's approach to car loan arrangement and failure to recover outstanding amounts criticised as irresponsible.
