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PPP National Chairman, Nana Ofori Owusu has rubbished the ban on the use of V8 and V6 vehicles by government officials effective January 2023.

The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta made the announcement on Thursday, November 24, 2022, when he presented the 2023 budget to Parliament.

He said this is part of government's measures to manage its expenditure in the face of the worsening economic situation.

“A ban on the use of V8s/V6s or its equivalent except for cross-country travel. All government vehicles would be registered with GV green number plates from January 2023,” he said.

Government agencies are to also resort to purchasing locally assembled vehicles, the Minister directed.

“Limited budgetary allocation for the purchase of vehicles. For the avoidance of doubt, the purchase of new vehicles shall be restricted to locally assembled vehicles; Only essential official foreign travel across government including SOEs shall be allowed. No official foreign travel shall be allowed for board members. Accordingly, all government institutions should submit a travel plan for the year 2023 by mid-December of all expected travels to the Chief of Staff.”

But Nana Ofori Owusu has emphasized that the ban on luxury vehicles isn't a solution to the plight of Ghanaians.

He noted that there must be a reduction in government expenditures which include reducing the size of the government.

He stated the President cannot be talking about fixing the economy when he's refused to heed the calls to reduce his government size and also his government officials unwilling to check their extravagant living.

To him, it is sheer hypocrisy on the part of the government to want Ghanaians to bear with the economic hardships but they won't.

"It's a basic principle that, in the time of difficulties, you cut back on your expenditure to make savings in the long run. So, you can't on one hand tell us, as citizens, to take 40% loss on our investment. We, as pensioners, should take 40% loss on our investment. We, as teachers, should take loss on our investment but you, as a government - those people who are sitting there and working, your punishment is that you can't drive a 4*4 vehicles in Accra. That is your punishment, that you can't drive a 4*4 in Accra.

"Is this rational? . . . What kind of austerity measure is this? Quantitatively, how does this solve the issue that we have at hand?", he questioned.

"If you are saying that we have to tighten our belt, it must reflect in government's expenditure, in government machinery; people who are there who are living large off citizens' back . . . so you cannot say that the only punishment you are meting out to government officials or the austerity measure you are taking against government officials is that you can't drive a luxury 4 by 4 but you can drive a luxury saloon [car]", he added while making his submissions on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' discussion programme.