Parliamentary chief whips call for insurance cover for all government vehicles

Majority and Minority Chief Whips have called for all government vehicles, particularly those operated by ministries, Parliament and other public institutions, to be covered by insurance.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor warned that the failure to insure state vehicles exposes the government to avoidable financial liabilities arising from road crashes.

He argued that taxpayers ultimately bear the cost of accidents involving uninsured government vehicles, including compensation and judgment debts awarded by the courts.

“The state is killing us twice. The first killing occurs on the asphalt through avoidable road crashes. The second occurs in the courtroom, from where taxpayers' money is compelled to pay avoidable judgment debts for accidents that were to be indemnified by insurance,” he said.

Mr Dafeamekpor cited the Auditor-General's report for the year ended December 31, 2021, which, according to him, found that the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice operated 92 official vehicles without insurance cover.

He also referred to a 2013 road crash involving a government vehicle with registration number GN 3118-10, which killed one person and injured four others.

The incident resulted in a judgment debt of GH¢266,399 against the state.

Mr Dafeamekpor said the ministry's failure to insure its vehicles had compounded the financial consequences of the accident.

“The Auditor-General had to flag this because the ministry couldn't find the money to pay. When summoned before the Public Accounts Committee, the Chief Director testified that they couldn't find the 200,000 to even insure the vehicles,” he stated.

He questioned why the ministry had failed to take steps to insure its remaining vehicles despite the financial consequences of the accident.

The Majority Chief Whip also raised concerns about the insurance status of more than 300 ambulances procured by the government.

He cited a disclosure by the Health Minister on JoyNews' PM Express in October 2025 that none of the ambulances was insured when the minister assumed office in January 2025.

“In October 2025, the Minister of Health disclosed on JoyNews' PM Express that upon assumption of office in January 2025, none of the over 300 ambulances were insured,” he said.

Mr Dafeamekpor said the situation was particularly concerning because the ambulances transport sick and injured people, often under emergency conditions.

He added that several of the vehicles had been involved in accidents, creating further financial pressures for the Ministry of Health.

Mr Dafeamekpor urged government institutions and statutory agencies to ensure that all vehicles under their control have valid insurance cover.

He said doing so would help protect the state from avoidable compensation claims and reduce the financial burden on taxpayers.