(a) who is directly or indirectly subject to his official authority;

(b) with whom the officer has or is likely to have official dealings;

(c) who resides or possesses land or carries on business within the local limits of his official authority; or

(d) who carries on the business of money lending.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an officer may borrow from, or stand as surety or guarantor to any person who borrows from banks, co-operative societies, or finance companies licensed under the Banking and Financial Institutions Act 1989, or the Islamic Banking Act 1983 or insurance companies or incur debt through acquiring goods or consumer goods by means of hire-purchase agreements provided that-

(b) such borrowings or dealing shall not lead to public scandal or be construed that the officer has abused his public position for his private advantage; or

(c) the aggregate of the officer’s debt does not or is not likely to cause him to be in serious pecuniary indebtedness as defined under General Order 161.

(3) Subject to paragraph (2), an officer may incur the following debts:

(a) sums borrowed on the security of land charged or mortgaged, where the said sums do not exceed the value of the said land;

(b) overdrafts allowed by banks;

(c) sums borrowed from insurance companies on the security of insurance policies;

(d) sums borrowed from the Government or co-operative societies; or

(e) sums due on goods or consumer goods acquired by means of hire-purchase agreements.

(4) Nothing in this General Order shall prohibit an officer from standing as guarantor or surety for a scholarship or loan granted by the Government or any statutory body or any other institutions approved by the State Secretary for the education of any children of any person: Provided that the written approval of the State Secretary shall first be had and obtained.

(5) For the purpose of paragraphs (1) and (2), "person" shall include a body corporate or unincorporated.