Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini has stated that the scrapping of the car loan scheme for legislators will overburden the taxpayer.

"Logically, I know it is going to cost the nation more than the current arrangement. So logically, as someone who cares about the public purse and the protection of the public purse, I wonder if that is the best way to go."

His comment comes after Parliament on Thursday approved a report by the Finance Committee to discontinue the car loan facility for Members of Parliament and the Council of State.

According to the report, subsequent governments must provide official vehicles for Members of Parliament and Council of State members for use as enjoyed by other Article 71 office holders.

But Mr Suhuyini in an interview with JoyNew's Joseph Opoku Gakpo intimated that the new arrangement is worse than the previous one, adding that Parliament failed to show leadership in protecting the public purse.

"If for nothing at all, the deductions that are made from the MPs' salary will no longer have to be made. Even if you assume that MPs pay 20 percent, the state would now have 100 percent responsibility of providing the vehicles and the additional fueling, insuring and probably, hiring drivers for them.

"So on that basis, it is clear that it is going to be more expensive for the state. Again, let us consider the fact that the constituencies may increase and so the number of MPs will increase. So, at what point will it end? So in my view, our sentimental reaction to the very reasonable sentimental condemnation from people is not a sign of leadership."

Meanwhile, Parliament has approved the $28 million car loan presented by the Finance Ministry to facilitate the purchase of 275 vehicles for members of the eighth Parliament. This would be the last time, the loan scheme is implemented.