A former Minister for Energy, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, says he has returned a luxury vehicle in his possession six months after exiting the post.
The vehicle was one of 38 purchased by the Ministry of Energy at the cost of GHC5, 584,508 from a budget meant for extending electricity to 1,200 communities under the Multi-Donor Budgetary Support Programme between 2010 and 2012.
The minority in Parliament had accused Dr Oteng-Adjei of illegally appropriating the vehicle to himself after he left his post at the Ministry.
But Speaking on Accra-based Joy FM Tuesday, Dr Oteng-Adjei admitted keeping the vehicle, but said it has been returned since Monday when the minority started raising issues, maintaining he “didn’t steal it.”
Stressing that he did not steal the car, he said: “I have returned it to the ministry,”
“l asked them to go and take it when I read the Daily Guide report… they actually came this morning and took the car away,” he added.
Explaining why he was still using the vehicle, Dr Oteng-Adjei said when he moved from the Energy Ministry to the Ministry of Environment and Science “their financial situation was a bit difficult” so he worked out with his previous ministry to keep the car “so that we don’t spend money to go and buy another car.”
