The Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) has presented eight vehicles to agencies under the ministry as part of the government's agenda to retool state institutions to deliver on their mandate. 

The vehicles were presented to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the E-waste Fund, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), and the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA).

The CSIR and GAEC received two vehicles each, while the other agencies got one.

The acting Minister of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who handed over keys to the vehicles to heads of the agencies last Thursday, charged them to live up to the core principles of the government's reset agenda.

He explained that the move was in line with the government's overarching policy to retool strategic state institutions to serve as the anchor for sustainable development.

Diligence

The Ellembelle Member of Parliament (MP) and Minister of Lands and Natural Resources added that the provision of the vehicles was a wake-up call to the institutions under MEST to gird their loins and strive for optimal performance of their duties.

"I am excited that after almost a year of procurement processes, we are finally seeing this day when vehicles are being presented to the agencies to deliver on the mandate.

"These vehicles are a testament to the fact that the President is committed to the reset agenda," Mr Buah said.

The minister urged the beneficiary agencies to adhere to an efficient maintenance culture to keep the vehicles in good condition.

He also cautioned them against using the vehicles for private business, stressing that "the vehicles and tools given to you are strictly for official use."

The Director-General of GAEC, Professor Samuel B. Dampare, who spoke on behalf of the institutions, commended the government for the procurement of the vehicles.

He said the vehicles would play a key role in enhancing the work of the beneficiary agencies.

Prof. Dampare assured the minister that the vehicles would be put to good use for the benefit of the country.

He said the vehicles would facilitate the delivery of scientific results for the public good.

Adding his voice, the Administrator of the E-waste Fund, Anthony Akwetea-Mensah, said the vehicle was a boost to the expansion drive by the Fund.

He said the pick-up vehicle would help the Fund to fulfil its mandate of collecting and disposing of electronic waste in an environmentally friendly way.

“We are an agency barely six years old with a mandate to reach out to the entire country with our activities.

If you have a very good vehicle to move around with, it helps to ensure that we can deliver our mandate to all parts of the country,” he said.