The leadership of Parliament has taken steps to establish the veracity or otherwise of the allegation that each member of the Appointments Committee of Parliament (ACP) was given GH¢3,000 bribe by the then Minister designate for Energy, Mr Boakye Agyarko, to facilitate his vetting.
The Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, told the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday that the first step was that the leadership of the House would meet with the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central and member of the ACP, Mr Mahama Ayariga, who made the allegation, for him to purge himself.
He said the meeting with Mr Ayariga was crucial because at a meeting with the First Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the ACP, Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, and the Minority Chief Whip and Deputy Ranking Member of the committee, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, at the ongoing workshop for MPs in Koforidua over the weekend, both of them "vehemently denied" involvement in the alleged bribery scandal.
While Mr Osei-Owusu denied taking any money from Mr Agyarko, Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak denied having received any money from Mr Agyarko through Mr Osei-Owusu and given same to Mr Ayariga, a former Minister of the Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation in former President Mahama’s administration.
Additionally, the Majority Leader said other members of the ACP had denied the bribery allegation.
Therefore, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said, if Mr Ayariga was unable to clear himself, his conduct would be referred to the Privileges Committee of Parliament for the appropriate action to be taken on the matter.
However, he said, if it was established that Mr Ayariga's allegation was true, appropriate sanctions would be taken against the culprits.
Mr Agyarko's approval was delayed because the Minority members on the ACP wanted him to provide documentary proof of allegations of corruption against former President John Dramani Mahama in relation to the procurement of the Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRUs).
During his vetting, Mr Agyarko had also claimed that the World Bank 'breathed fire' down the throat of former President Mahama to take a particular course of action and alluded to the huge indebtedness of the energy sector.
Following his meeting with the leadership of Parliament and members of the ACP, during which he was said to have withdrawn the allegations, Parliament approved his nomination by consensus last Friday.
Scandalised
The Majority Leader said he felt "scandalised and very worried" about the alleged bribery scandal against the members of the committee, noting that the leadership of the House would follow through with the measures to bring a finality to the issue to preserve the integrity of Parliament.
Prior to the start of the vetting, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said, he had held a meeting with members of the committee and cautioned them against taking any money from any nominee.
Genesis of allegation
In a radio interview, Mr Ayariga had alleged that Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak had given GH¢3,000 to each Minority member on the ACP.
Following rumours that the money was given by Mr Agyarko, who was being vetted for the position of Minister of Energy, Mr Ayariga claimed to have confronted Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak over the source.
According to him, Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak told him that it was Mr Osei-Owusu who had given the money to him, with the explanation that it was from Mr Agyarko.
Mr Ayariga said following that revelation, he, together with his fellow Minority MPs, returned the money because they had initially thought it was a sitting allowance.
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak has challenged Mr Ayariga to provide evidence that he (Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak) had given such money to him.
Mr Agyarko, on the other hand, had refuted the allegation that he had given money to members of the ACP and threatened legal action against Mr Ayariga.
But Mr Ayariga says he stands by his claim of alleged bribery.
Parliamentary submission and counter
Mr Osei-Owusu told Parliament last Friday that there had been some revelations and confessions concerning the bribery allegation at the meeting that the leadership of the House and that of the ACP held with Mr Agyarko and Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo prior to their approval as Minister of Energy and Senior Minister, respectively.
"I wish to observe that out of that meeting have come some revelations and confessions concerning news that is going round that I have received money for members of the committee.
"It was actually created to play a level ground that the Majority had called the former President corrupt and so corruption must be shared among us.
"That confession has calmed tempers to some extent because some of us were extremely boiling up. Now knowing where the falsehood is coming from, we will find a way of dealing with it, such that the entire membership of the committee will continue to enjoy the confidence of the Ghanaian populace," he said.
However, hours later, Mr Ayariga denied that he had made any confession at the said meeting that the allegation was for equalisation purposes, nor had he retracted the allegation.
Refuting an earlier publication that he had withdrawn the claim of bribery, Mr Ayariga posted: "I wish to also add that I was not making up any facts to equalise for the bribery allegation against President Mahama. My colleagues and I actually returned the money to be given back to Mr Agyarko, who we were told gave the money."
Source: Daily Graphic
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To be most modest, Mr Ayariga is a non sequitur element to be allowed on the vetting committee. There are proven facts of evidence of his mischief and malignity. How dare he concoct such hideous bribery ploy in defense of such evil unpalatable abuses as the immediate past NDC president, Mr John Dramani Mahama has committed against the Republic of Ghana? Was this man ever aware Mr Ex-President Mahama came out harassing some Ghanaian professional bodies during his administration tenure? Did they do what they did in cahoots to destroy Ghana, taking undue advantage of the trust reposed in their offices? This is precisely the offence Ayariga is seeking to perpetrate. Does such an evil element deserve to let off the hook? Ayariga cannot ever be suffered to derail the vetting assignment. We advise His Excellency study the situation most carefully and take a stern correcting action. Ayariga and his lot are a grave blight on Ghana's growth to nationhood. These evil elements must simply go whatever the cost.
I cannot buy this bribery saga. How can MPs receiving vetting allowance would not sign any official document but just receive it nicodemously and then make fuss? Please come again and stop the premeditated distraction. I wonder if these three/four NDC MPs are afraid of Hon. Boakye Agarko. New agenda to block the vetting but it will not work.
I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW SOME PEOPLE THINK. SOMEBODY WHO ASKS NANA ADDO TO DO SOMETHING DEMANDS THAT WHETHER THE MATTER IS TRUE OR UNTRUE AGYARKO SHOULD BE SACKED. PEOPLE LIKE K. B. ASANTE AND PERHAPS KWESI PRATT SHARE SIMILAR VIEWS. IT IS NONSENSEE TO SUGGEST SACKING WITHOUT PROOF. WHERE IS JUSTICE IF WE LIVE THIS WAY. WHY SHOULD SOMEBODY SUFFER FOR NO WRONG DOING. CAN WE BUILD A NATION ON FRIVOLOUS ALLEGATIONS. YES I AGREE PERFECTLY THAT IF IT IS TRUE THAT PEOPLE WERE GIVEN MONEY TO INFLUENCE VETTING, THOSE INVOLVED IN THE BRIBERY SHOULD BE PUNISHED. BUT NOBODY SHOULD SUFFER WHEN NO WRONG IS DONE.
Propaganda without intelligence is INSULTS.Ayariga and co think they can tarnish the good name of Agyarko and go scott free.Na LIE.They will meet their meeters when dragged before the privileges committee.NDC should just grow UP.They still think that Ghanaians are gullible and as such will believe anything they throw out there.Who in their CORRECT mind will give a bribe for something they know they are going to get anyway? Its like these NDC guys have sold their souls to the devil.They can do unthinkable things just look at the people mentioned in this :Ayarig,Okudzeto,Vanderpuye very mischievous guys and you expect ghanaians to believe you.Just grow the F@ck UP!
The NDC had a meeting to tag Nana Addo's Government with Corruption within first 100 days in the office. This is really on course for them able supported by Kwesi Pratt the man with no wisdom. Not surprise that Okudzato choosed Nii Lantey as witness because he knows credible ones as Muntaka won't fall forthis. But the secrete is out because you guys are not smart enough hence the use of vetting angle. Any Ghanaian brains can tell that NDC minority could not in a million years stop Agyarko from becoming the minister so where lies the wisdom to bribe? It's a big lie and it won't hold. Mr Sharp Teeth Okudzato is being pushed with this but what he's forgetting is that he's with Woyome in the loot and share activity. Ab3n B3 Bom.
Nana will never rescind the appointment of a competent man like Mr Agyarko just because of some idi*ts in Parliament. Tell your Ablakwah,Suhuyini,Eric Opoku and Mahama Ayariga to bring evidence. Why did they collect the money before calling it a bribe?according to Ayariga he thought it was a sitting allowance,is sitting allowance paid on the table by cash by the leaders of their party? Why would Mr Agyarko pay the minority when NPP is majority and can push their way by voting?this is nons*nse only foooools will believe this bullsh*t. Mr Agyarko is not going g today or tomorrow he is the minister for energy and is going to do a good job while these people claiming to have got a bribe will be investigated and if found lying be impeached. The Parliament is a serious business and you can't lie there that's why they are called Honorable so you have no business being there when you are dishonest. Agyarko can't resign because of somebody's stup*dity. Those idi*ts think they are kriminal tough guys and they will meet their meters. Just look at their faces and physics such foooools and primitive thi*ves think they are somebodys.Johnny just comes,champion Attas,akurase champions. Ndc paaaa wo ne3ma fon.
For me ; whether this is TRUE OR UNTRUE !!!!; Nana Addo should take steps to just suspend or get rid of this smelling Agarko until the matter is cleared because to me he is not the only ordained qualified person in this field to do this job ; the hussle is too much for Nana Addo to entertain ; Parliament should investigate this matter and the credibility of this Osei-Owusu ; Osafo -Marfo should be called into question in Nana Addos team ; Nana Addo should be wary because a GOOD NAME IS BETTER THAN RICHES ;TODAY JON MAHAMA HAS A BAD REPUTATION OF INCOMPETENCE : BRIBERY ;GREED ; LUTTING OF STATE PROPERTY ; NANA ADDO SHOULD NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE TO BE CALLED THE PRESIDENT WHO APPOINTED A CLASS OF EDUCATED ELITE FULL OF STILLERS AND BRIBE GIVERS : MR AGAYRKO IS NOT INDISPENSABLE HE SHOULD BE SIDELINED BY NANA ADDO BEFORE THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT STARTS SMELLING OF CORRUPTION AND STILLING !!!!!!!IT WILL BE A SHAME IF NANA ADDO IS CALLED THE MAN WHO ENTERTAINED BRIBERY AND DID NOTHING JUST AS JON MAHAMA !!!!!!!!NANA ADDO PLEASE !!!!!!!!TAKE ACTION NOW !!!!!AND DO NOT TAKE PRISNOERS THIS TIME : IT IS TOO EARLY !!!!!
Ayariga dog eater who did you give the money to? And why did you collect the money when you knew it was bribe money? (2)why didn't you ask of the source of the money before accepting it?bring evidence showing it happened?when did you find it was bribe money?Mr Ayariga I think you said Hon. Muntaka gave you the money and you thought it was sitting allowance,do you take such money from the table without signing nothing to acknowledge receipt? I support the call for enquiry so the truth which has been taking hostage by the ndc will be set free for the evil in the ndc about the progress of Ghana to be known and that party buried in Ghana. I think the necessary parliamentary procedure should be on camera for all to see and if these people are found to be lying they must be impeached for our parliament to have honorable people to represent our constituencies. NPP you are the majority and shouldn't entertain these us*less things in the Parliament. Okudzato with the fork teeth is a pathological liar and a thi*f,please Hon. NPP MPs don't treat this as the usual fama Nyame thing,deal with them and see to their impeachment to serve as a deterrent to others. The Parliament must be observed with decency and decorum.