Mahama Has�Taste For Luxurious Cars;�What Will a Second-hand Ford Do For You? - Atik Asks �

Atik Mohammed, General Secretary of the People's National Convention (PNC), has questioned President John Dramani Mahama's integrity over a car gift presented to him.

Journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni disclosed that a Burkinabe contractor named Djibril Kanazoe had given a 2010 Model of Ford Expedition as a gift to the President.

The contractor is also said to have won two contracts from the Government of Ghana.

Manasseh Azure further revealed that the gift was presented to the President in October last year.

The car gift has courted controversies in the country as some political figures describe the gesture as an act of bribery.

Speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', the PNC General Secretary also wondered why the President would taint his integrity for what he believed is a mere vehicle.

According to Atik Mohammed, the Ford Expedition is no match for the fleet of cars of President John Mahama.

He noted that the President has a peculiar taste for luxurious cars and so asked him; "what will a second-hand Ford do for you? I’m sure it’s parked somewhere and he’s not driving.”

He told sit-in host Nana Yaw Kesse that the President’s acceptance of the car undermines his fight against corruption.

“It was avoidable. You shouldn’t have accepted whatever it was or whatever it is that you call it so that you can strengthen our fight against corruption.”

Though he wouldn’t describe the car gift as an act of bribery, Atik Mohammed however had some words for the President.

“The President is showing that leadership must condone anything that will create the perception of corruption; he shouldn’t have accepted the gift much less call the person to thank him, because corruption is largely perceptive . . . Did he pay unit tax? The President is exempt from paying tax on salary and other things that come from the consolidated fund but things outside this remit, I’m sure he’s liable to the payment of tax.We don’t know whether the President paid tax on that peck or he did not pay.

“..it creates the impression that your attitude the fight against corruption is weak and that you’re condoning acts of bribery.”