'Shameful' Ayariga irresponsible - Group

A group calling itself Arise for Change and Development (AFCAD) has admonished Ghana’s parliament to suspend Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga over his bribery allegation.

The Ghartey Committee, which investigated the allegation made by Mr Ayariga against the leadership of parliament’s Appointments Committee, has found him guilty of contempt of parliament.

The committee, in its 56-page report, said it “came to the firm conclusion that Mr Mahama Ayariga is in contempt of parliament on the strength of Article 122 of the 1992 Constitution, section 32 of the Parliament Act, 1965 (Act 300) and Orders 28 and 30 (2) of the Standing Orders of Parliament”.

The Committee said it “came to this conclusion because Mr Mahama Ayariga failed to prove that indeed Hon Boakye Agyarko [Energy Minister] gave money to Hon Joseph Osei-Owusu [Chairman of the Appointments Committee] to be distributed to the members of the Appointments Committee with a view to bribe them”, as alleged by Mr Ayariga in an interview he granted Radio Gold.

The Committee has, thus, recommended that having established a case of contempt against Mr Ayariga as well as having examined the sanctions regime available, recommends to the house the following:

1. That the Hon member for Bawku Central Mr Mahama Ayariga, be reprimanded by the Rt Hon Speaker in accordance with section 35 of the Parliament Act, 1965 (300)

2. That Mr Mahama Ayariga render an unqualified apology to the House, purging himself of contempt.

The five-member ad hoc committee chaired by Essikado Ketan MP Joe Ghartey said it “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 activities which can bring the image and dignity of parliament into disrepute. Accordingly we view the recommendation relating to the sanctions adequate in the circumstances.”

AFCAD, in a press statement on Friday March 31, stated: “It's very shameful and unacceptable for an honourable member voted for by his constituents to represent them in parliament to help build Ghana, to have acted so irresponsibly and recklessly.”

According to the group, “the credibility of the house has been marred by Mr Ayariga before the international community”, hence he must be withdrawn from parliament.

Below is the full statement

Suspend Mahama Ayariga From Parliamentary Businesses Or Face Our Wrath.

Arise for Change and Developments (AFCAD) is very much peeved with the outcome of the committees' report on the bribery allegations made by Mr Ayariga.

It's very shameful and unacceptable for an honourable member voted for by his constituents to represent them in parliament to help build Ghana, to have acted so irresponsibly and recklessly.

Bringing the name of the HOUSE into disrepute is a gross misconduct against the parliamentary Act, and ought to be condemned and an immediate actions be taken against him by the Right Honourable Speaker of parliament without delay.

The minority caucus for sometimes now proven to Ghanaians to be irresponsible and a disgrace to our parliament house and governance as a whole, and it's an indictment and an insult on us all as Ghanaians.

The credibility of the house has been marred by Ayariga before the international communities.

AFCAD cannot entertain such irresponsibility from our parliamentarians on both sides anymore. You need to be serious for once.

We voted you there for a purpose, and you must deliver and help Ghana.

We cannot succeed on this path as Ghanaians if we continue in such manner.

We, however, call on all Ghanaians irrespective of your party colour to speak and condemn Ayariga and his accomplices.

The house should as a matter of urgency suspend Mr Ayariga from all businesses of the house to serve as a deterrent to others.

We must build Ghana.

Signed;

President.

Antwi Boasiako