North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has mentioned three more NDC MPs whom he says received GH¢3,000 to allegedly influence the minority members on the Appointment Committee to approve a nominee for a ministerial post.
Samuel Ablakwa says Bodi MP Sampson Ahi, Asunafo South MP Eric Opoku and Odododiodoo MP Nii Lante Vanderpuye also returned the money believed to be a bribe from then Energy minister-designate Boakye Agyarko.
The North Tongu MP is one of three MPs demanding a parliamentary inquiry into a bribery saga that gutted the Appointments Committee last Friday. The lead inquirer is Mahama Ayariga who first went public with the allegation that his Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak gave NDC MPs the money which he received from the Chairman of the Committee Joe Osei Owusu.
Joe Osei Owusu who is Bekwai MP and First Deputy Speaker of Parliament is alleged to have received the money from the Energy minister-designate Boakye Agyarko. This narration provided by Mahama Ayariga has been disputed by all three persons he has named in the bribery saga.
Joe Osei Owusu has insisted he has given no money to Muntaka who has said and sworn by Allah, he has given no money to Mahama Ayariga. Muntaka was Ayariga's critical witness. But with his denial, Mahama Ayariga appears isolated in his claim. But in a saga that is increasingly fluid, two other MPs have come to the defence of Ayariga also claiming to have received the money.
Mr. Ablakwa and Tamale North MP Alhassan Suhuyini say they returned the money after realising it was not sitting allowance but an attempt to unduly influence their work on the Appointments Committee which vets ministers-designate.
Speaking on Joy FM Monday, Samuel Ablakwa, referred to the Bible which forbids anyone from bearing false witness against his neighbour. "There are serious consequences" to anyone who does so, he said and insisted his interest is not in politics but in establishing the truth.
"If this matter is becoming murky, muddy water and controversial, then let's look into it" he said.
The North Tongu MP expressed worry that of the three arms of government, the legislature is the most hesitant in dealing with allegations of wrongdoing.
He said in the Executive, ministers have had to resign after they are implicated in wrongdoing. In the Judiciary, some judges lost their jobs after a bribery scandal implicated several High court judges.
Yet in Parliament, several allegations of corruption and bribery have been left unresolved.
Popular examples, he mentioned are a 2008 bribery scandal in which a Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa MP, P.C Appiah-Ofori, claimed MPs received GH¢5,000 to approve the sale of government’s 70% shares in Ghana Telecom to Vodafone.
One of Ghana's most experienced MPs Alban Bagbin also claimed in 2014, MPs are corrupt.
"The reality is that MPs are Ghanaians and there is evidence that some MPs take bribes and come to the floor and try to articulate the views of their sponsors" Alban Bagbin stoked controversy.
In June 2013, ICT and electronics company, RLG offered to build boreholes in each of the 275 constituencies.
It asked interested MPs to indicate on an attached form “the most appropriate town/community the borehole should be sited”. But the offer was described as an immoral attempt to influence MPs after the company's CEO Roland Agambire was linked to a scandal.
Okudzeto says all these scandals were not dealt with exhaustively. He wants the latest controversy to be an exception.
He wants "swift action", "swift investigations " to "restore public confidence" in that arm of government.
Source: myjoyonline.com
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THIS OFIRI GYATO ABLAKWA MUST STOP THIS LIES.GOD IS WATCHING YOU ALL ONAAPO.
ALL THE NAMES OKUDJATO MENTIONED AS WITNESSES ARE ALL CROOKS.
Its only in this country that a public official makes serious allegations without tangible evidence and the whole nation is almost in confusion.Ayariga where is the evidence to support your bribery allegations?If he is unable to provide any verifiable evidence then he should face some punishment.We shdnt encourage people least of all public officials to go about making allegations with concrete evidence.
I just want to ask some few questions that the whole media landscape in Ghana is refusing to ask. Now, we all know that bribery is criminal offence in our statutes. According to Ayariga and co, they took the money, realized it was bribe money, and had to Muntaka. All of this happened friday. Yet on that same friday they went ahead to give approval for Agyarko's nomination. So why would members of the of the NDC on the appointment committee give their approval for a criminal to head our energy ministry?
Hahahaha,the pot calling someone black, where did you get the money which was stolen by washing bay guy, this. your sharp teeeth will land you into trouble, who is more corrrupt than you Ablakwa, ve ever worked as a person before, but u ve been able to acquired so many properties within a shortest time
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.
guys go ansd support your brother Ayariga's claim if its true. Mutaka is a joke if this issue is true and swearing like that
Hehehe! laughing matter oooo! Okujeto, showing his true nature, a propagandist, conist,and a sasa-dy-juster. He jovially, attempted to group his fellow NDC Mps, with tainted accolade, to support his lying crusade. Pathetic.
NPP minister has given bride but the heat is on the NDC rather? What a joke. The guys are corrupt meanwhile people want to paint them as holy. Money exchanged hands. Muntaka no wonder was fired from the Sports Ministry. It is in his DNA. The way he handled Suyhini when he asked a critical question of Ken Ofori-Atta speaks volumes. Only God knows how much Ken paid to Muntaka to go it easy on him.
The former british prime minister said African Politicians are fantastically corrupt.iT DID NOT GO DOWN WELL WITH ME.but our actions and inactions makes one believe we are fantastically corrupt.we are the course of our own problems. hhhhmmmmm