Ayariga, others petition Speaker to probe bribery scandal

Three National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs being led by Mahama Ayariga have petitioned the Speaker of Parliament Mike Oquaye over an alleged bribery scandal against the Appointments Committee.

The other two are Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Alhassan Suhuyini – MPs for North Tongu and Tamale North respectively.

Last Friday, the Bawku Central lawmaker alleged a ministerial nominee Boakye Agyarko tried enticing Minority members of the Committee with Gh¢3000 each through the chairman Joe Osei-Owusu. According to Mr. Ayariga, details surrounding the sharing of the money reached him through his chief whip Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak.

Both Alhaji Mubarak and Osei-Owusu have denied the allegations although Mr. Ayariga insists there was exchange of hands.

“We jointly request you to carry out an internal enquiry into the veracity of the claims made by us in the allegation of attempted bribery of the Minority Members of the Appointments Committee of Parliament by a ministerial nominee.

“We, the three (3) Members of Parliament, will subject ourselves fully to the processes of the enquiry,” the trio signed in a joint petition to the Speaker.

Below is the full petition:

Rt. Hon. Speaker

Parliament of Ghana

Parliament House

Accra

Sunday, 29th January 2017

Rt. Honourable Speaker,

REQUEST FOR INTERNAL ENQUIRY INTO ALLEGATION OF ATTEMPTED BRIBERY OF SOME MEMBERS OF THE APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE OF PARLIAMENT BY A MINISTERIAL NOMINEE This is a joint request by Hon. Mahama Ayariga (MP) Bawku Central Constituency, Hon Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP) North Tongu Constituency and Hon Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini (MP) Tamale North Constituency to you the Rt. Hon Speaker of Parliament.

We jointly request you to carry out an internal enquiry into the veracity of the claims made by us in the allegation of attempted bribery of the Minority Members of the Appointments Committee of Parliament by a ministerial nominee. We, the three (3) Members of Parliament, will subject ourselves fully to the processes of the enquiry.

Please, accept our highest regards.

Thank you.

——-Signed——

Hon Mahama Ayariga (MP) Bawku Central Constituency

——-Signed——-

Hon Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP) North Tongu Constituency

——–Signed——–

Hon Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini (MP) Tamale North Constituency

We shall petition Mr. Speaker tomorrow on this bribery scandal: pic.twitter.com/EVYY8u9QGi

— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) January 29, 2017