News:
March 3, 2017
The Ad Hoc Committee tasked to investigate the bribery allegation that hit the Appointments Committee and its Chairman, Joseph Osei Owusu, has found Hon. Mahama Ayariga guilty of contempt.
.
The Committee has therefore recommended that the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye reprimands him in accordance with Section 35 of the Parliament Act, 1965.
In effect, the Bawku Central Legislator is to render unqualified apology to the House, purging himself of contempt.
“The Committee took notice of the fact that the Hon. Mahama Ayariga is not known to have engaged in acts that tend to disrupt the smooth proceedings of Parliament. Neither does he have a penchant nor reputation of engaging in activity which can bring the image and dignity of Parliament into disrepute. Accordingly, we view the recommendation relating to the sanctions adequate in the circumstances,” Hon. Joe Ghartey’s Committee report in part read.
The Committee, according to its report, came to that conclusion because Hon. Ayariga “failed to prove that indeed Hon. Boakye Agyarko gave money to Hon. Joseph Osei-Owusu to be distributed to Members of the Appointments Committee with a view to bribe them.”
The Committee was tasked with the responsibility among other things to establish whether the 1st deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu took money (GHC100,000) from the Minister of Energy, Boakye Agyarko and gave oy to the Minority Chief Whip, Hon. Mohammed Mubarak-Muntaka for it to be distributed to Members.
The Ad Hoc Committee was to also establish whether there were attempts to bribe the Appointments Committee Members.