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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YOU SWEAR WITH WHAT? YOU THINK WE ARE FULLS. SWEAR WITH YOUR DICCK IF U MEAN IT
MR 1.6 MILLION JOBS.DEVIL.
When Captain Smart asked him to swear on his life concerning this matter, he couldn't. So what is he saying now? Your F00OLISHNESS must cease because Parliament is for matured people so if you are lucky to buy your way there try and learn some wisdom. What is the point for Agyarko to bribe? Even upon all your hatred for Otiko because he placed you in your category, she is still a minister. Why would you be bribed when NDC can never prevent any of the President's nominees from becoming the minister? )torofo) Fiafito. Whatever you say warrants insults. When will you ever say anything with your brains as human?
I don't get this guy! He is either st**id, evil or both. How can you say "We heard where the money was coming from and we did our own checks and got confirmation so we decided to return it" Checks with who? So the man did not approach you directly and give you money and yet you are swe**ing the man gave you bribe. Are you that naive or just plain stu*id. Such people with low level of intelligence. You are a hopeless MP, your kind of reasoning and politics is a disgrace to the many brilliant youth in this country.
Ablakwa is treading on very muddy waters. We do not even care if he is lying or not. We just want the truth. And the culprit, punished and banned from any position in Ghana
Even at the law courts people swear with the HOLY BIBLE but still go ahead to lie. So what is Okudzeto Ablakwa saying.
Lies begot lies and he can not change his stand as a propagandist until he is wholly swallowed up in lies.Why was the money not kept to be tendered as an evidence like the Bugri Nabuhs vehicle gift by the NDCs Mahama?
Okudjeto my question to you is did you receive any money from Boakye Agyarko? if not how can you swear that he gave you bribe? lets assume without admitting that someone gave you the envelope and indicated that its coming from Boakye Agyarko how can you be sure that the said envelope truly came from the said Boakye Agyarko? and how can that be proven? do you have evidence to show Boakye giving the said money to that person for onward submission to you and your minority caucus? again do you have evidence either audio or pictorial linking Agyarko to the diabolic process? if you dont have any evidence to this effect then i must say you have a big hurdle to climb to prove the merit of your case
so okudzeto ablakwa knew god when he lied to ghanaians that the ndc created 1.6 million jobs. ?