The government has dared former government appointees threatening to go to court over the retrieval of vehicles from them to file their writs. A Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa told Joy News government is ready to meet any of the former appointees in court over the matter. Last week, he issued an ultimatum to former functionaries keeping state vehicles to return them by Friday, May 1 or have the vehicles forcibly taken away from them. But some of the accused threatened to sue the government claiming they either duly acquired those vehicles or were not keeping any vehicle at all. Former Fisheries Minister Gladys Asmah said she was not keeping any state vehicle illegally and did not understand why her name was mentioned as one of those keeping the cars. She threatened to sue the government over the matter. Other former ministers also issued similar threats. But Mr. Okudzeto, who apologised to Mrs Asmah for wrongfully citing her for keeping a state vehicle, maintains many former ministers are keeping cars they are not entitled to. He said if they have the moral turpitude to go to court over things they illegally appropriated for themselves, including vehicles purchased at over $40,000 cost to the state and sold only for $6,000 after only five months, then the government is ready to meet them in court. He expressed the hope that things will not get to such extreme levels as four persons have already returned their vehicles. He reiterated the government’s commitment to apply due process, including force, to retrieve the vehicles. According to him, a meeting is being held on the matter as to how to proceed to retrieve the remaining vehicles. Mr. Okudzeto believes the former government officials have shown bad faith as there is a “clear lack of co-operation” on their part. The issues, for him, have therefore gone beyond negotiations. He stated that the retrieval of those vehicles was necessary because government would want to channel the about $6 million needed to buy new cars into productive sectors of the economy. Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com