Parliament’s Public Account Committee (PAC) has expressed surprise over the sale of vehicles belonging to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research for ¢2,200.

The auction also witnessed another pickup being sold for ¢2,300.

According to the document available to PAC, the two vehicles, a 2014-registered Nissan pick up and a 2014-registered Toyota Hilux were both described as ‘un-serviceable’.

A Nissan Hardbody pick-up also described as unserviceable was sold for ¢4,800 and another for ¢4,600.

Two tractors were sold for ¢4,500 and ¢8,100 each. The details were disclosed when officials of the Animal Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research appeared before PAC.

Chairman of the Committee James Klutse Avedzi, who was shocked by the revelation expressed his displeasure with the details of the auction.

Member of the Committee, Alexander Abban questioned the basis for which the auctioneer was paid 7% of the total sum.

The 2017 Auditor General’s report submitted to Parliament recommended that the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research should seek a refund.

“We noted that three (3) fairly good vehicles of the Institute which could have been repaired at a reasonable cost and put to use, had been abandoned and left to the mercy of the weather.”

“We recommended that the Institute should seek funds to repair the vehicles. In the absence of funding, the institute should liaise with its Head Office to have these vehicles.”