Knowing how grave it is to bear false witness against a neighbor, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has vowed not to change his stance on the alleged bribery scandal that hit the Appointments Committee as he prepares to face a five-member committee approved by Parliament.
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has sworn by the heavens not to go against God’s word in Exodus 20:16, which teaches every Christian that “Thou shalt not bear false witness” as he preps for the encounter with the committee.
“This is the truth and God is my witness. I will not bare false witness, remember in the Bible that the 10 commandments speak against this. There is a grave sanction for you if you are a Christian and you bear false witness. I wouldn’t tell a lie on somebody”, he said.
Although Members of the House have been barred by the Speaker from commenting publicly on the issue as it amounts to contempt while the committee does it work, Hon. Ablakwa told Radio Gold in an interview on Monday, February 13, 2017 that Energy Minister designate, Boakye Agyarko, tried to bribe the Minority Caucus on the Appointments Committee when he appeared before them to be vetted.
The five-member investigative ad-hoc committee formed by Parliament to investigate the bribery scandal is expected to commence sitting on Wednesday, February 15, 2017, but Hon. Ablakwa maintains that “we are not changing our position - Hon. Boakye Agyarko sort to bribe us when he was having difficulties with his approval”.
He revealed that “we received envelopes containing GHS3000 each. We met and decided at a meeting chaired by our leader, Hon Haruna Iddrisu, whom I have a lot of respect for, great leader… he agreed with all of us that let us all return the money and we all returned the envelopes.”
He continued that: “What I know is that an envelope was given to me and my other colleagues and we found out that it wasn’t our allowances…We heard where the money was coming from and we did our own checks and got confirmation so we decided to return it. We are not in parliament to receive any nominee’s money. Our constituents didn’t send us to parliament to go and receive bribes from nominees."
Earlier on, there were suggestions that the alleged bribery scandal should be referred to the Privileges Committee of the Legislative House, but the Speaker upheld the proposal for the proposed Committee to launch investigations into the issue, explaining that the allegations of corruption is beyond the reach of the privileges.
He approved the establishment of an in-house Committee after he accepted a proposal from the Majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu.
The Speaker of Parliament also referred to Standing Order 191 of Parliament, stating emphatically that the order “should also put to rest whether Parliament can inquire into matter A or matter B anytime in the history of this Republic. Parliament, as the representative of the people, is empowered inherently and is recognized in this particular part of our Standing Orders to inquire into any matter from archaeology to zoology, within the republic of Ghana.”
For this reason, former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, who’s also the MP for Essikadu-Ketan in the Western Region, Joe Ghartey is to lead a five-member committee approved by the house.
Magnus Amoatey, MP for Yilo Krobo, Ben Abdalla, MP for Offinso South and B.T. Baba, as well as Ama Pomaa Boateng, MPs for Talensi and Juben constituencies respectively are also committee members.
They have been given 4 weeks to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the scandal and submit its report to the House.
Source: Chris Joe Quaicoe/ email: [email protected]
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the minority on the appointment committee are 10 in number whereas the majority are 15. but it seems only 3 have boldly come out to tell the public what they are claiming. well does it also means that, the 3 are those who received the alleged bribes? or all the members on the minority side and the rest are silent on the matter. or is it that, the 3 are trying to dent someone and as a result tried to concoct the so called alleged to make it true for their personal gain--tit for tact.okudjato, who gave u the money? and when u found out that it was a bribe from Agyarko, whom did u return the money too...and what evidence can you give in support of the two scenarios...when u received the money...when you returned it...I think when we are cleared on this, we could have some peace and rest on this matter. thank you.
Ablakwa wo maame "3tw3" wa ti ..Kwassiaa!
People always think you can swear with God and still speak lies because God is very Merciful and Gracious to forgive. You would definitely pay for disgracing people with falsehood. When you are in your sick bed with all the riches and want to apologise to the victim but cannot find him, that is when you will remember that you cannot play with the Supreme God. You can go ahead and speak your lies but do not bring the I AM THAT I AM, the final authority, Baba God, into that equation to make your lies look good. A word to the wise is enough. What would profit a man to get all the riches in this world but loses his life.
Any body in Ghana is given the title honorable. ***barred word***.
If u have the evidence submit it to the committee and stop the Radio propaganda it is better
LIAR LIAR NDC AND THEIR LIES eiiiii, GHANAIANS, YOU SHOULD NOT LISTEN TO THESE NDC LIES OOOOOO
Otiko will make you know your class & your smoothness level. I know you now panic anytime you hear the name Otiko. You will talk true.Look at you, looking like baby ***barred word*** eating yourself to death.
For what purpose ? Geerrroouuuttt?///?