The President John Evans Atta Mills is presiding over “state sponsored gangsterism and criminality,” the minority NPP has said. A joint press conference held by the minority in Parliament and National Executives of the New Patriotic Party cited the “new culture of car seizures” that has caught on in the Mills administration. In a subsequent interview with Citi News, Nana Ohene Ntow, General Secretary of the party expressed worry over the phenomenon which he said appears not to be ending any time soon. Even more distressing, he said, was the involvement of the police, the BNI and other para-military personnel in the execution of the seizures. He mentioned names of the party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates in the 2008 elections, the son of former president Kufuor, as victims of this embarrassing act. He also narrated the seizure by the police of eight vehicles in Kumasi which he said belonged to the party. Contrary to earlier reports the eight vehicles could not be traced, Nana Ntow said the cars are parked in the BNI office in Kumasi. Ohene Ntow debunked accusations that ex-government officials were 'stealing' state vehicles, saying the ownership of cars could easily be verified at the Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Authority. He said the deafening silence by the president indicate he acquiesced and sanctioned the behavior of the state apparatus. But in a rebuttal, the presidential spokesperson, Mahama Ayariga, said the minority “is building a mountain not only of an ant hill, but nothing.” He attributed the car seizures to what he said was the minority’s lack of cooperation in the transition. “In cases where it turned out to be that the vehicles were not for the state, the cars have been returned and apology issued by government.” He sees no reason why a press conference will be held to raise these issues once again. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline