Two ex-government officials have returned official state vehicles in their possession to government. Former Works and Housing Minister, Boniface Abubakar Saddique and Ex spokesperson for President J.A. Kufuor, Andrew Awuni returned their vehicles on Thursday, a day after government issued a one week ultimatum to all officials to return official vehicles they bought on leaving office. Abubakar Saddique said he “returned the vehicle for the sake of peace.” He took a strong exception to references to him and others as criminals, arguing “I applied for the purchase of the vehicle, went for its valuation and paid GH¢9,700 for it. “I have not changed the number of the car and have not hidden it any where. I see no reason why anybody should describe me as a thief,” he lamented. Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa had in a press conference referred to defaulters as “gangsters and criminals” in apparent response to a press conference early on by executives of the New Patriotic Party that President Mills was “presiding over state-sponsored gangsterism and criminality,” in reference to instances of car seizures. Abubakar Saddique said his return of the car was as a result of a letter he received from the Chief Director at the presidency and not in response to the ultimatum issued by Okudzetu Ablakwa. The Deputy Information Minister however told Joy News the ultimatum appears to be working contrary to the initial resistance put up by some ex-government officials. He said three other officials have negotiated to return their vehicles. Meanwhile, a management consultant, Ato Conduah, has called for the discontinuation of the policy in which government officials are allowed to purchase state assets on retirements. “Given the rumpus we are witnessing, new policies must be put in place,” he said. “Government officials must be stopped from showing interest in government property. “We should allow public officials to go to the open market to purchase their own vehicles,” he said. Listen to excerpts of the interviews in the attached audio. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline