A claim by Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga that Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko attempted bribing members of the Appointments Committee with GHS3000 each was a "colossal untruth" smacking of "bad faith", Chairman of the committee Joseph Osei-Owusu has said, and further begged Speaker of Parliament Mike Oquaye to grant him leave to sue Mr Ayariga to redeem his dented image.
"Mr Speaker … I, Joseph Osei-Owusu, MP for Bekwai, First Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Appointments Committee, have never discussed, requested, demanded nor received money of whatever quantum from Mr Boakye Agyarko for myself or committee members from Mr Boakye Agyarko or any other person for that matter. Neither have I discussed, offered or given any money to Hon Muntaka Mubarak for himself or for the members of the Minority on the Appointments Committee. The allegation by Hon Mahama Ayriga, therefore, is a colossal untruth, which has done grievous damage to my reputation, my hard earned integrity as a lawyer of 27 years' standing, a public servant of high repute, and a respected MP for Bekwai in the Ashanti Region," Mr Osei-Owusu said on the floor on Tuesday, 31 January.
According to him, "The Appointments Committee always takes a decision on every nominee who appears before it as soon as the day's proceedings are over. Mr Speaker, the decision on Mr Boakye Agyarko and Mr Yaw Osafo Marfo were taken the same night after they appeared before the committee – i.e. 20th and 23rd January, respectively. The decision was that the Minority will not support them and, therefore, they will be recommended to be approved by majority decision in the house.
"The charge of bribery to pass the nominee, therefore, does not fit into the equation as the nominee had already been recommended to be passed by the Majority the same night the nominee was vetted. Mr Speaker, recognisably, the NPP has such a huge majority in parliament and as such does not need to pay a bribe to have its way in this house, that is, assuming bribery has been part of this business of this house.
"The need to have consensus is largely to benefit the Minority to the extent that their concerns may be taken into consideration in decision-making. To turn around to accuse the Majority of bribing the Minority, therefore, is illogical, ill-motivated and in bad faith
"Mr Speaker, I have a dilemma, my fervent heart desire is to go the civil court to reclaim my integrity. I'm, however, aware of the challenges one has to battle with in any litigation involving a sitting Member of Parliament but Mr Speaker, you have the power to permit service of court processes on a sitting Member of Parliament through your office, I crave your indulgence to assist me to ventilate my grievance in court, if I'm successful, it may help redeem the image of this parliament, which is often battered by its own members."
Source: classfmonline.com
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IT WAS AYARIGA WHO INITIATED THE MOVE FOR, BAWKU MP TO LOOSE HIS SEAT AND IMPRISONED. AYARIGA DESERVES TO BE IMPRISONED FOR LYING AGAINST A MINISTER AND DEPUTY SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT AND TARNISHING THE IMAGE OF THE ENTIRE PARLIAMENT.
This bribery thing is a grand plan to repackage mahama for 2020 and mahama Ayariga (chief lair)is leading that plan been supported by mahama chief supporters ( Ablakwa,nii Lantey, sampson ahi,kwasi pratt,Eric opoku) and other mahama choir members. They first want all the nominees to say sorry to mahama so they can use that in 2020 campaign but npp have seen it and that's was why Otiko didn't ' the give them the chance, they also don't want anyone to talk about the bad deals about ex prez family that's why they shifting goal post to Kennedy Agyapong but as for ken,he can deal with them in his own way.Ndc forget ,mahama is a bad news and he can't be repackage so just forget...Mahama is Mahama and we all knows what he stands for simple.
There's no way, you can clear your name and the party's image apart from courts of justice. But if your believe it's true then let it go. But it's going to huge failure of NPP. And it will be massive dent on both ministers, the NPP party and you personally.
@ Bashiru, you've exposed your ignorance. Your don't know how parliament works so please keep quiet when issues like this crop up.
BASHIRU MUSAH KEEP QUITE STUUUPPPIIID PROGANDIST YOUR JOHN DRAMA MAHAMA IS A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR AND THIIIEF AS WELLL SHAME MOTHER FUCKERRRRRRRRR
WELL articulated!!!! 'The charge of bribery to pass the nominee, therefore, does not fit into the equation as the nominee had already been recommended to be passed by the Majority the same night the nominee was vetted. Mr Speaker, recognisably, the NPP has such a huge majority in parliament and as such does not need to pay a bribe to have its way in this house, that is, assuming bribery has been part of this business of this house.'
There is no wisdom in this for the reason being even if the Minority on the Vetting Committee does not approve Agyarko's nomination, it will go to the floor of parliament for deliberation and voting. Now, what is the number of the minority compared to the Majority? At the end of the day there is no way the Minority could prevent Agyarko from becoming the substantive minister. So why would he want to give Bribe? IT'S A TOTAL LIE. Mahama Ayariga started it and he wanted to backtrack and they saw that it was gaining roots, so Okudzato the Kwasiato also joined. Look at the people Okudzato is calling as witnesses; Nii Lantey and the likes. Okudzato said he met Mahama Ayariga going to Muntaka's office so he took that of Ayariga and met Nii Lantey at Muntaka's Office. F00OOLISH Talk. Even kids can tell you are lying. Muntaka knows they are being F00OLISH that's why dissociated himself from it. You guys are not wise because the angle with which you want to pay Agyarko back is so full of flaws. For that Ayariga I don't know whether he's got any brains up there.
NPP is becoming bookish and weakling always bidding behind constitution Oga go to court to clear yourself. What is that fear feat for.
So if the Speaker does not grant you that wish, i believe someone from your Constituency can sue MAHAMA AYARIGA,ABLAKWA and SUHUNI the gold digger. When they were in power they showed INCOMPETENCE and lied to Ghanaians left,right,centre and have been relegated to opposition and even there you still don't know how to construct Good lies.
Mahamah Ayariga if feels strongly about his allegation should waive his parliamentary immunity rights from being sue voluntary to afford Mr. Osei Wusu the chance to go to court so Ayariga can proof his case. We want to get to the bottom of this. Nobody should be allowed to hide behind parliamentary immunity to water down this serious allegation to be used as a propaganda in the near future. Not Mahamah Ayariga alone; in fact any parliamentary who wants to join this case should be allowed to do so but they should waive their immunity rights to sue and be sued also. They can have it both ways. You can't have their cake and eat it at the same time. Parliamentary inquiry is not the answer to cure this allegation. Names are mentioned, people reputation are at stake, Ghana and parliament are drag into this and therefore, they should have the right to sue. With this back and forth from both side, nobody can tell the actual facts of the issue. I think the court is a neutral ground to determine the fact and resolve this once and for all.