Amongst the many queries representatives of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) had to respond to at the public hearing of the Auditor General’s Report (AGR) in Parliament was why they do not license their vehicles.

The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament Ibrahim Tawa Conteh noted that most government vehicles are not licensed and insured, and that those that are licensed are done with a third party.

This issue was raised on the 11th September 2024 during the hearing ot AGR of the year 2021. Conteh said “That is a major problem across government, and it is not just the licensing when you look the ‘Waka fine buses, they are insured but they are insured in third party. It’s a risk” He stated that it is expensive to insure under the Comprehensive insurance policy but was quick to note that it is safer to do so especially for recovery, as in the event of the vehicle getting damaged, one would have a recourse to get another.

The Chairman cited that if something happens to the car, whether it catches fire or other accident during the course of the life of the vehicle, one will be covered through the insurance. He explained that he has seen government vehicles involved in accidents with no recovery for them because they had third party insurance.

“This is a serious issue that we need to address” he said.

A part of the Auditor General’s Report for the year 2021 on vehicles owned by the Ministry of Health says:

“We noted that some of the Ministry’s (Health) vehicles are neither licensed nor insured. This is contrary to Section 11.1 of the Government Vehicle and Fleet Policy of 2020. We therefore recommended that the Transport Officer should fully account ensure that the Ministry’s vehicles are immediately licensed and insured”.