Sex-for-job jab: I’m disappointed in parliament - Malam Issa

The legislature’s failure to question Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong for his claim that Electoral Commission chairperson Charlotte Osei offered sex in return for her current position has come as a surprise to Malam Ali Yusuf Issa, former Youth and Sports Minister.

Mr. Agyapong, on June 25, 2016, addressing party supporters in Kumasi, suggested Mrs. Osei, who replaced Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan as EC boss in June 2015, did not get the position on merit but had to sleep her way to her appointment.

The lawmaker has been criticised by several people and groups in the country for the comments.

Beyond this, however, parliament has failed to haul its own before its disciplinary body to prove his allegations, an inertia that does not go down well with the former People’s National Convention (PNC) chairman, who briefly served as Minister of Sports during the administration of Mr John Kufuor, prior to his incarceration for willfully causing financial loss to the republic.

Expressing his unhappiness with Ghana’s parliament on the matter Tuesday, July 19, on Accra100.5FM’s breakfast show, Ghana Yensom, Malam Issa said: “My challenge is the way Kennedy Agyapong is able to come out as a sitting Member of Parliament [and make such comments]. I must say I am very disappointed in parliament [for their failure to call him for questioning]”.

Malam Issa observed that had an ordinary person made an adverse comment or wild allegation against a legislator, the house would have been swift in dragging the offender before the privileges committee.

“They have not been proactive [on this matter],” the failed NDC parliamentary aspirant for Adentan noted.

“…The way we wanted them to be proactive, they haven’t done that and that is one of my challenges. He is a sitting Member of Parliament.”