Bribery saga: Ayariga optimistic of favourable ruling

Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga has said he is looking forward to the ruling of Speaker of Parliament on the bribery allegations he made against the leadership of the Appointments Committee.

This comes on the heels of his indictment for contempt of parliament by the five-member Joe Ghartey committee after a probe into the allegation.

Ahead of the ruling which is expected to be given before the house adjourns today (Friday, April 6), Mr Ayariga is positive that Prof Mike Oquaye’s ruling will be positive.

“We have to wait for the Speaker’s ruling because he will decide whether what I said amounted to an apology or not… I believe that today he will deliver his ruling,” he said.

“The report of the committee captures everything and the report says ‘apologise to parliament’ and then it says ‘the Speaker should reprimand’, it does not give the Speaker powers beyond just reprimanding.”

However, he explained that what constitutes a reprimand is subject to the explanation of the Speaker. For him the calls for his expulsion from the House, as is being championed by members of the Majority, is entirely left to the Speaker.

Meanwhile, the House is also expected to approve car loans for MPs as well as the supplementary appropriation bill.