The Chairman of an Ad-hoc Committee of Parliament set up to investigate the bribery scandal that rocked the Appointments Committee of Parliament has debunked assertions of conflict of interest made by critics.
On the first public hearing to ascertain the truth in the allegations that minority members were bribed by the then Energy Minister designate Boakye Agyarko to approve him, Joe Ghartey said the conflict of interest claims have no basis.
He quoted Article 284 of the constitution which said for a conflict of interest situation to arise, a public officer must put himself in a position to be compromised and nothing like that has happened.
Joe Ghartey provided the terms of reference of the committee, part of which is to unravel whether monies changed hands in the approval of the Energy Minister.
He said the committee may only call four witnesses to testify in the scandal that has challenged the integrity of the Legislature.
Joe Ghartey said in deciding which witnesses to invite, the ad-hoc committee looked at the terms of reference and the key players involved in the matter.
The witnesses to be invited are Chairman of Appointments Committee Joe Osei Owusu, Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak, Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko and Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga.
On the first day of sitting to begin investigations into the matter Joe Ghartey said the committee will however invite any other person who has any information on the scandal but that person must first send a memorandum to the committee and they will be given a hearing.
The Parliament public hearing has become necessary following allegations by the Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga that the Energy Minister designate at the time, Boakye Agyarko paid an amount of 3,000 cedis to members of the Minority to facilitate his approval.
Source: JFM Ghana
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Can someone please tell the Committee members to ask Mr. Joe Ansah why it is the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, who called for the meeting to "resolve" the issues pertaining to Osafo Marfo and Agyarko? That is strange, especially as Osafo Marfo and Agyarko found themselves in the meeting. So the questions are: Who invited Osafo Marfo and Agyarko to Parliament on that day of presenting the report to Parliament? What were they doing in the Speaker's office? Why was it not the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei, who called for the meeting but rather Haruna Iddrisu? What was his motivation to call for such a meeting at a time when he and his side in the Minority had taken a position to vote against the two people? Could it be the case that there was some good motivation for such a meeting?
HO. AYARIGA, YOU ARE NOT A CHILD CALL A SPADE A SPADE AND SHAME THE DEVIL. WE ARE TIRED OF BRIBERY SCANDALS IN PARLIAMENT. THE TRUTH SHOULD ALWAYS BE TOLD.
PRAY FOR GHANA We are praying against Corruption in our Parliament and Government. There is going to be 3 days (15-17 Febr.) of Public Hearings on BRIBE ALLEGATIONS levelled against leadership of the Parliamentary Appointments Committee and the Minister of Energy. We are praying for the TRUTH to come out, and our CORRUPT LEADERS exposed. . Let's continue to use THE BLOOD OF JESUS AS OUR WEAPON OF ATTACK AND DEFENCE. We are not fighting any man, woman or party; we are at war against the Spirit of CORRUPTION. Let's proclaim THE BLOOD OF JESUS over Parliament and all those that will participate in the hearings. . . Please pray loud your own prayer as the Holy Spirit leads you or say the prayer below, and pass this message on to others to also pray. . . Let's pray! "FATHER, we bring the Government and Parliament of Ghana before Your Throne of Grace. In the Name of Jesus, we place the Blood of Jesus over the Speaker of Parliament, Majority Leader, Minority Leader, Parliamentary Appointments Committee, the Joe Ghartey Committee, all Parliamentarians appearing before the Committee, the Minister of Energy, the Media covering the events and the General Public witnessing the events, their families, friends communications, networks, letters and electronic messages. FATHER, let the Precious Blood of Jesus speak life, righteousness, truth, justice and fairness into our Parliamentarians, Minister of Energy, Media persons and people in general. Your Blood opens eyes and ears and minds to know the truth. Let the TRUTH in the heart of every Parliamentarian and Minister participating in these hearings be exposed. . FATHER, let the Blood of Jesus speak Your Word in Malachi 3:18 into our people, which says, "And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not." . Let the Blood of Jesus interrupt the thoughts, words and deeds of the Corrupt and Liars appearing before or sitting on the Committee. Break the cover of protection around them and cause their CORRUPT deeds to be exposed as witness against them. . . FARTHER, let the RIGHTEOUS among them shine in their words and deeds for our people to see them, because of Your glory poured on them. LORD, give the Righteous, the DESIRE and BOLDNESS to fight Corruption and expose colleague CORRUPT PARLIAMENTARIANS or Minister, even if they belong to the same party. . FATHER, please give us righteous people to serve in our Parliament, AND MAKE OUR NATION GREAT AND STRONG! In Jesus' Mighty Name we pray. Amen! Please forward it to others. By Victor Baidoo.