Joyce Bawa Mogtari: I Bought State Vehicle as Part of My Conditions of Service • Threatens to Sue Accusers

Joyce Bawa Mogtari, a presidential advisor and special aide to the President, has stated that she did nothing wrong in purchasing the official vehicle she used while serving as the Deputy Minister of Transport. She explained t]that acquiring the vehicle was part of her conditions of service.

Recently, some activists from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have criticized Joyce Bawa for purchasing the state vehicle—a Toyota Avensis with registration number GT 2435-14—at a remarkably low price of GHc14,700 on January 6, 2017, just one day before President Mahama handed over power to President Akufo-Addo.

Legal Action

Mogtari warned that she would not hesitate to take legal action against those who propagate false and malicious claims about her.

Unjustified tactics

In a strong response on Facebook, the presidential advisor described the attacks on her as baseless, unnecessary, and unjust tactics aimed at undermining her for legally acquiring the vehicle for personal use. She remarked, “Their attacks would have been justified if, in their haste to criticize me, they were able to demonstrate that the acquisition did not comply with my conditions of service or any applicable law.”

Adherence to the law

Mogtari asserted that her commitment to the law and service to Ghana is supported by the fact that she has not been the subject of any investigation or complaint regarding the acquisition of the vehicle. She noted that leading figures and members of the NPP have targeted her with accusations that have, so far, proven unfounded.

Valuation of vehicles

She also explained, “Vehicle valuations are carried out by the STC, and as experts, they have established criteria for conducting these valuations. Therefore, it is completely inappropriate for anyone to attack me regarding the price of the vehicle when the real questions should be directed at the STC for clarification on their valuation parameters.”