Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, says he still stands by the bribery allegation he made against the parliament’s Appointments Committee, and explained it was all based on what the minority chief whip, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka told him.
Mr Ayariga had accused the then minister-designate for Energy, Boakye Agyarko, of attempting to bribe some members of the Appointments Committee to approve his nomination. He claimed the minority members of the Committee were given GHC3,000 each.
The accused has since denied the allegation. Taking his turn Monday at the ad hoc committee of Parliament investigating the allegation, Mr Ayariga who waved his right of counsel said he never dealt directly with Mr Agyarko and the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joseph Osei-Owusu “I never dealt with the chairman of the committee either on the issue of the money.
As I indicated, it was our whip who asked us to come and take it…He was the one we asked to find us the source and he was the one who told us the things that I said on air,” Mr Ayariga told the ad hoc committee. Mr Ayariga had told the Committee that they requested to be given sitting allowances in view of the long hours they had to sit to which the chairman of the Appointments Committee promised to work on.
According to Mr Ayariga they later received money from Alhaji Muntaka believing it was sitting allowance but rumours emerged that it was a bribe from Mr Agyarko to facilitate his approval by the minority who had taken a hard stance against his nomination as Energy Minister.
“It started first as rumours and so we asked for an investigation. We asked our minority whip to and check and then come back and report to us.
Source: 3news.com
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Ayariga never said "Muntaka told me it was bribe." He has maintained the said money was from Hon. Agyarko in all his narratives. It is left for us to define or interpret what that money is. Please learn to quote people or at least say what they said. I am very keen to know how this issue could be unravelled since some people have decided to sit aloof. Kwaku Baako was noted to have said they have some information but people were coward,expecting journalists to be the channel of making their views public. The Ghanain that I know will never confess even until the point of death. Corruption is imbued in most of us,and we were it like Bakatari and Kaba. If it were in other jurisdiction, the culprits would own up, resign and face the consequences. One thing I am certain of is that Ghana will stand tall at the end of this. Please don't forget silence doesn't always mean acceptance, and laughing over a serious issue doesn't mean is a jest. God save our motherland Ghana. Let's stop this NDC AND NPP partisanship, and call spade a spade. Some where else anybody embroiled in such a case would resign from their post. Agyarko, Joe Wise, Ayariga, Muntaka and all those involved should do the most honorable thing in resigning their post.But the Ghanaian that I know would want to have eat their cakes and retain it.
What I do not get is it's only Ayariga, Okudzeto, and Suhuni who are claiming to have received monies which have allegedly turned out to be bribes. What about the other 33 members or so sitting on the vetting committe panel? Did they receive any monies at the same period? Stuffs don't add up here, brethren!
I think the bigger issue is how monies change hands in parliament. All payments should be through MP's bank accounts going forward so that payments can be traced to the source.(audit trail). After all nobody should afraid to declare monies legitimately earner. The fundamental problem is how monies are paid without appropriate documentation. that is where the corruption has festered. Done on purpose to hid the source. Am thus not surprised of various allegations of payments by bodies who want the bills and agreements passed. For me the committee is not asking the salient questions. he looked the money he says. in what denominations were they. who did he take from and who did it return it to. who are the other embers apart from the three out of the 26 members on the committee who were also paid. Why does he take monies without signing for also not asking for the purpose. He either lied or is now on hindsight covering up. the only reform here is the ode of payment of monies to MP's for sitting, travels, etc. If the table top approach persist then they are all in support of they happenings and basically set this is committee up just to redeem their image and deceive us as ghanaians.
I wonder how anyone in their right senses will insult Honorable Ayariga. Which of you would have admitted this crime? Are you saying there can't be a crime without evidence? Someone can be killed and yet the killer may not be found . Does that mean there was no killing. All you're all saying is that NPP should continue the stealing spree but shouldn't be caught.
Is Ayariga so ***barred word***? This is a big disgrace. You don't have any evidence but you're screaming BRIBE? And this +++111ddd+1110000tttt+++ calls himself a lawyer...an MP and a Harvard graduate? What a shame. This is a waste of the tax payers money. He should be debarred, impeached and kick out of parliament. In fact, Joe Wise, Muntaka and Agyarko should demand a waiver from the speaker and sue his F..K1NG +aaaassss++++sss.
Shame Bugri Nabu is by far better but you people were insulting for not keeping the money. This calls himself a lawyer. my fo0t. Bugri's case happened long ago and so I expect as wise as you people think you are to learn attacks on him to keep the money and produce them as evidence. These are our law makers. Doom for Ghana.
Shame on you shame on you...muntaka has denied that.may Allah punish you