Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has advised that the latest bribery scandal to hit the Appointments Committee of Parliament be depoliticised.
Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga, stirred controversy last Friday when he alleged that then Energy Minister-designate, Mr. Boakye Agyarko, attempted bribing minority members on the committee after recommendations on his nomination was withheld.
“This is not a matter to be situated within the usual NDC, NPP politics,” he said, adding that politiciSing corruption was the reason why the country had not been successful in fighting the canker.
“When something is wrong, it is wrong. It doesn’t matter if it is NDC or NPP. I am not interested in the partisanship”, the former Deputy Minister of Education told media men in Accra after yesterday’s sitting.
Mr. Ablakwa said it was important to thoroughly investigate the matter to establish the truth so as to redeem what he described as the waning reputation of the legislature.
He said the minority side of the Committee was given the hint of a possible bribery by some NPP members of the Committee.
“I can tell you on authority that there were some NPP MPs who helped us blow the alarm by giving us a hint on where the money was coming from,” he said.
Mr. Ablakwa debunked suggestions that the scandal, which seems to divide the front of the Minority NDC, was an attack on the leadership of Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority leader.
The NDC, he said, had confidence in Mr. Iddrisu and that those inventing such thoughts were attempting to “obfuscate” the issue.
“We have confidence in our leader, he is an inspirational leader and he can lead us for the next four years” he maintained.
He said the Minority leader was aware “at every material time” that the money was given to the minority members and therefore, supported the call for an enquiry into the matter.
Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa is one of three people to have petitioned the Speaker to institute a probe into the scandal.
The others are Mahama Ayariga and Alhassan Suhuyini, Tamale North representative.
“We jointly request you to carry out an internal enquiry into the veracity of claims made by us in the allegation of attempted bribery of Minority members on the Appointments Committee of Parliament by a ministerial nominee.
“We, the three Members of Parliament, will subject ourselves fully to the processes of the enquiry” the petition read in part.
Source: Ghanaian Times
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
I have two suspicions. 1. Internal wrangling between Mahama faction and Iddrisu faction. Therefore the alleged bribery scandal can be a sabotage against Hon. Haruna's presidential ambition. 2. Hon.Ayariga and co might have taken the alleged bribed money without the knowledge of Hon. Muntaka but after getting the hint that the Anas investigative team was at work they had to run for cover and try to rope in the innocents. Keep your fingers crossed the truth shall come out.
ALL THE ARGUMENTS OF ABLAKWA SOUND CHILDISHH. HE CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE A HINT THAT SOMEBODY WANTED TO BRIBE THEM AND THAT SOME NPP MPS HELPED THEM TO BLOW THE ALARM. IF ABLAKWA STATEMENT IS TRUE THEN HE AND AYARIGA AND THEIR GROUP ACTED CHILDISHLYY. THEY RELIED ON RUMOUR, AND THEY ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BE DECEIVED. IT ALSO LOOK LIKE THEY WANTED THE SCENARIO TO HAPPENED AND THEY ALLOWED THEMSELVES TO BE USED FOR THE IDEA SINCE THEY WERE WISHED IT. SO THEY LIED BY PRONOUNCING WHAT THEY WISH TO HAPPEN.EVERYTHING OF HIM DEPENDS ON RUMOUR, HEAR SAY WISHFUL THINKING. NONSESEE.
Where is your share of the said money bring it out as an evidence. If you refused to take it then there was no bribery case for lack of evidence. We should be remembered that the NPP transition team refused all payments for their services,so this could be a ploy from the NDC
Babies with sharp hands for taking bribes and govt money. Massa your time is up!
Well all that i can say is Ablakwa and Mahama Ayariga are D'amn Liars and NPP must take serious steps to SUE those 2 guys. They know what Agyarko can do by bringing out all the CORRUPT deals by IBRAHIM MAHAMA and JOHN MAHAMA so the best way was them to tag HON. AGYARKO as corrupt. But someone must take them on to answer questions and my advise to HON. Ayarko is to make sure he solves ENERGY CRISIS then PROSECUTE all those who are involved in BAD Deals .