The Ministry of Transport and Aviation has issued a statement clarifying the allegations regarding 196 missing vehicles, noting that there is no cause for concern regarding the alleged missing vehicles. These claims, which have stirred public attention, centered around an alleged discrepancy in the delivery of vehicles as part of a government procurement deal. The Ministry, however, has strongly refuted the reports and has explained succinctly what transpired.
This rebuttal came after articles published in SALONE TIMES on 7th March, 2025 and another local newspaper. Both newspapers suggested that 196 vehicles, out of a total of 241, were unaccounted for, sparking concerns over potential mismanagement or corruption at the Ministry of Transport and Aviation.
In the SALONE TIMES report, a statement attributed to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, mentioned the missing vehicles during a PAC hearing. According to the report, Hon. Conteh asked if all 241 vehicles had been delivered, with the Senior Procurement Officer allegedly confirming that only 45 Toyota Hilux vehicles had been received for paramount chiefs.
Similarly, another Newspaper cited a 13-month delay after the signing of the procurement contract, during which only 45 vehicles were delivered, leaving the remaining 196 vehicles unaccounted for. These claims sparked a flurry of questions about the transparency and accountability of the Ministry in handling the procurement process.
In response, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation issued a clear rebuttal, explaining exactly what truly transpired. The Ministry emphasized that the 196 vehicles in question were never delivered because they had not been paid for, and therefore, they could not be considered “missing.”
The Ministry provided a detailed explanation of the procurement process. According to the Ministry’s statement, during a hearing at the Public Accounts Committee on 3rd March, 2025, it was clarified that the procurement of 241 vehicles was part of a government initiative aimed at supplying vehicles to paramount chiefs, judges, and other public officials. However, as of August 2024, when the Auditor General’s Report was compiled, only 45 of the 241 vehicles had been delivered.
The Ministry further explained that during the PAC hearing, questions about the procurement process were addressed in full. The Senior Procurement Officer and other members of the Ministry’s management provided clear responses and presented supporting documentation to clarify the situation.
One key point that was made clear during the hearing was the financial aspect of the procurement. The Ministry’s Accountant, Sahr John Panda, explained that the Ministry of Finance had made an initial payment to the supplier amounting to 17% of the total contract sum. This payment accounted for the 45 vehicles that were delivered. The remaining vehicles, the Ministry confirmed, had not been paid for and, as such, had not been delivered.
The Deputy Director of Fleets, Samuel Turner, also confirmed that the 45 vehicles received were handed over to the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, which in turn distributed them to the Council of Paramount Chiefs.
It is important to note that the remaining 196 vehicles, according to the Ministry, are still to be procured, and no payments have been made for them. Therefore, any suggestion that these vehicles are “missing” is simply inaccurate, the Ministry affirmed.
The Ministry’s statement also reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability, and public trust. The management assured the public that it would continue to work diligently to fulfill its responsibilities and ensure that all government processes are conducted in a transparent manner.
With this clarification, the Ministry hopes to set the record straight and assure the public that there is no cause for concern regarding the alleged missing vehicles.
