Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Allotey Jacobs says the Parliamentary probe into the bribery allegations leveled against Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko, will yield nothing.
According to him, it is a “fruitless journey” embarked upon by the 5-member Parliamentary Committee charged to investigate the issue because he strongly believes the Energy Minister is innocent.
The Ad hoc Committee set up by the Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye and chaired by Minister for Railways Development Joe Ghartey, is to launch investigations into the bribery allegation following claims by Mahama Ayariga and other minority MPs that the accused was trying to financially induce them for their approval.
Hon. Ayariga, Bawku Central MP, made this shocking disclosure on Radio Gold, saying they were offered 3000 cedis each.
Addressing the issue on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ programme regarding the Committee’s probe, Allotey Jacobs didn’t mince words as he declared his support for Hon. Agyarko saying “I still stand by my position that Boakye Agyarko has not given any person bribe and the Parliamentary probe will not get anywhere. They’re doing it to spoil somebody’s name. They should give him the peace of mind to do his work.”
He advised the Parliamentarians to stop assassinating Mr. Agyarko’s character and also stop treating Ghanaians as “toddlers in school who are being told Ananse stories . . . They should leave the man alone to his work”.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joe Osei-Owusu appeared before the 5-member Committee and debunked the claims, stressing it is all a set-up for him to taste the bitter experience of Ex-President John Mahama.
He noted that the bribery allegation is a mere a fabricated story to debase him.
Other members of the committee are Ben Abdallah Banda, MP for Offinso South; Magnus Kofi Amoatey, MP for Yilo Krobo; Ama Pomaa Boateng, MP for Juaben and Benson Tongo Baba MP for Talensi.
The committee has been tasked to investigate Mahama Ayariga’s allegation that Boakye Agyarko – who was being vetted by the Appointments Committee – through some people, paid GH¢3,000 to the minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs on the committee to influence his (Agyarko’s) approval as Minister of Energy.
They are specifically looking into the allegation against the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joe Osei-Owusu, who Mahama Ayariga had mentioned as being the conduit for the bribing and Minority Chief Whip, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, who Mahama Ayariga claimed had brought the money.
The Joe Ghartey committee will call upon Mahama Ayariga, Joseph Osei-Owusu, who is also the 1st Deputy Speaker.
Others to appear are Mohammed Mubarak-Muntaka, and Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko.
Background
The investigation was launched after Mahama Ayariga and two minority MPs – Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Alhassane Suhuyini – had accused Boakye Agarko of bribing them.
Ayariga, the MP for Bawku Central, caused public outrage when he claimed on pro-NDC network – Radio Gold – recently that the Minority Chief Whip who is the NDC MP for Asawase, shared envelopes containing GH¢3,000 for minority members serving on the Appointments Committee to approve Mr. Agyarko.
The Minority Chief Whip has already denied ever sharing envelopes containing GH¢3,000 each to approve the nomination of Mr. Agyarko to become Minister of Energy, but this appears to have incensed his colleagues on the minority side of parliament.
Mahama Ayariga claimed Alhaji Muntaka had told them that it was the Committee’s Chairman Joe Osei-Owusu, who gave the money to them and said they later got to know that it was coming from Mr. Agyarko.
In the ensuing debate, Nii Lantey Vanderpuije, a minority member of the Appointments Committee, was also said to have said on Montie Fm – a sister station of Radio Gold – that he didn’t know anything about the alleged bribe, even though he was expected to have benefitted from it.
Source: Dan Kwasi Prince // www.dailyviewgh.com / Ghana
Writer’s email dailyviewgh@gmail.com
