The Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Ocquaye has finally given his ruling on the Parliamentary bribery saga.
Giving his ruling in Parliament on Friday evening, the Speaker asked Mahama Ayariga, Member of Parliament for Bawku Central to 'go and sin no more'.
"If anyone, MP or non-MP takes a bribe involving MPs, it will impede our work. If someone falsely accuses a member in that direction, it will impede our work…in all the circumstances of this case, I have come to the conclusion that the honourable Ayariga should be shown the quality of mercy on this occasion; go and sin no more” the Speaker ruled.
Hon. Mike Ocquaye however warned the Bawku Central MP “never to peddle such expensive rumours anymore in his affairs in this house….Honourable Ayariga, if this should be repeated in future after today’s ruling, you will have yourself to blame..."
Background
Mahama Ayariga was found guilty of contempt by an adhoc committee chaired by Hon Joe Ghartey after he alleged that the Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko bribed members of the Minority on the Appointment Committee to approve his nomination.
According to him they had received an amount of Ȼ3,000 from Muntaka Mubarak which they initially thought was their sitting allowance but turned out to be bribe given by Hon Joe Osei-Owusu; Chairman of the appointment committee on behalf of the Energy Minister nominee at the time.
The Energy Minister denied giving any money to Joe Osei-Owusu who subsequently threatened to go to court.
Muntaka Mubarak on the otherhand also denied taking or receiving any money.
Mahama Ayariga, however, insisted on receiving the bribe.
The Speaker of Parliament then formed the Joe-Ghartey Committee to investigate the matter.
The committee after almost two months of sitting found Hon Ayariga guilty of contempt because he did not give any evidence for the accusation he made and asked him to render an unqualified apology.
Going to court
The Speaker during his ruling on Friday, also denied Hon Joe Osei-Owusu’s permission to take the issue to court.
According to him, “…the first deputy speaker should be constrained for going to court for whatever another honourable member says in the course of our business here. He cannot go to court; infact the permission he sought cannot be granted. But he can come to the court of parliament. Parliament has the full right and duty to investigate the matter to punish who so ever should be punished in such a case but within parliament”
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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. |
IF AYARIGA IS PARDON LET US DO SAME TO DELTA FORCE AND CLOSE THE THE NASTYYY BEHIND US. AYARIGA SAGA AND DELTA FORCE ISSUE SHARE COMMON SIMILARITIES. IN BOTH CASES SOME GROUP OF PEOPLE BEHAVED AND ACTED IMMATURELYYYY. IN THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO APOLOGIZE THEY ACTED STUPIDLYYY TO WORSEN THEIR THE CASE AND GENERATED MORE PUBLIC ANGER. GIVING SERIOUS THINKING TO THE MATTER ONE CAN NOTICE THAT THE WHOLE SCENARIO IS PART OF THE TRANSITION. JUST AS IT WAS PREVAILED ON AYARIGA TO APOLOGIZE SO IT MUST BE PREVAIL ON THE DELTA FORCE TO APOLOGIZE. THE DELTA FORCE ISSUE IS CLEAR INDICATION OF STRUGGLE FOR POWER BETWEEN THE PARTY AND THE EXECUTIVE IN ASHANTI REGION. WUNTUMI AS THE REGIONAL PARTY CHAIRMAN SHOULD ACT DIPLOMATICALLY TO MANAGE THE THE STRUGGLE.
meat in a soup gives it the best test to those who enjoys it. but have you pause a minute to ask the meat a question? c c t v that you are talking of you know ayariga is very aggressive to prove his point why didn't he tenter those evidence before the c'ttee please reason up
Keep leaving in the f001s paradise wei. CCTV which had nothing on it or the concorted lies by that your dishonorable NDC MPs.
Hahahahahaha Mr speaker you are so wise papa. Hai Like if you attempt suspending Ayariga like your government would be embarrassed ankasa. Still Ghanaians want to see the CCTV footage. Don't sweep the truth under the carpet mr speaker. Ayariga was waiting for you to suspend him so that he would realise the CCTV footage to Ghanaians then you would see where your hypocrite government would be
THE NDC CAN'T SURVIVE IN THE OPPOSITION .THE PARLIAMENT IS TOO GENTLE FOR THEM .THEY THINK THEY ARE IN RADIO GOLD.FORGIVE THEM THEY LACK THE MEN FOR PARLIAMENTARY JOB .LOOK AT SUHINNIY, OKUDZETO,ATO FORSON,SAM GEORGE ETC.
I BELONG TO THE PRESBY CHURCH BUT IF I HAPPEN TO EMPLOY YOU, I WON'T FORCE YOU TO ATTEND THE PREBY HURCH. THIS HOW IT SHOULD BE. THERE IS THIS SMALL CLINIC IN THE TANO SOUTH CONSTITUENCY ESTABLISHED BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE SDA CHURCH WHICH IS ANNOYING PEOPLE. ALL THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE FORCED TO OBEY SDA CHURCH REGULATIONS. THE WORST AND THE MOST PRIMITICE WHICH COULD ATTRACT GOV'T ATTENTION IS THAT THESE SDA PEOPLE ARE FORCING THEIR WORKES NOT TO UPHOLD TUC REGULATIONS. IT APPEARS THESE SDA CHURCH MEMBERS DON'T BELONG TO THIS CENTURY. THE EARLIER THEY ARE CHECKED THE BETTER.
Speaker please we beg you please punish Ayariga. Suspend him or sack him like you will have the whole Parliament on its knees. We still want to view the CCTV footage. This bribery scandal can't be swept under the carpet. It stinks. Ayariga don't be cowed. Fight the good fight against this 419 govt and Parliament
Is Ghana's parliament now a church ? Is the speaker now a pastor? What a joke. All these guys are just wasting tax payers money. Why are they covering up the truth? Why is Ayariga refusing to apologise? Is there a cover up? Is there something he knows Ghanaians don't know? Why can't the so called speaker of the House establish an impartial independent prosecutor to look into the case? Something is not right here. Ayariga must share with Ghanaians what he knows about this bribery allegation than just rendering an apology. Ghana's democracy is under threat folks.
I don't think this Ayariga guy is a true Muslim... True Muslims don't peddle lies... No one should refer to him as honourable anymore. He does not deserve that title.
This Ayariga guy must be suspended from the house.. He has drag parliament through mud and lied under oath. What is he still doing in parliament? Expel him....