Televise Ayariga’s bribery interrogation - Teye Nyaunu

Former National Democratic Congress’ (NDCs) MP for Lower Manya Krobo Constituency, Michael Teye Nyaunu has admonished Parliament to televise the alleged bribery interrogation of Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga.

"There will be absolutely nothing wrong if the interrogation is televised,’’ because it is already in the public domain, he said.

The MP had alleged that the Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko bribed them with an amount of GHc 3, 000 each to approve him after the vetting.

His allegation was corroborated by colleague MPs for North Tongu and Tamale North-Okudjeto Ablakwa and Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini.

The claims were however denied by the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak. He described Ayariga as a liar because he never received any amount of money from the First Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Vetting Committee, Joe Osei-Owusu.

The three through a petition to the Speaker of Parliament have called for an enquiry into the allegation and have promised to subject themselves to any interrogation.

Following this petition, the former legislator and anti-corruption campaigner said it will serve the interest of citizens and parliament to televise the interrogation.

He was speaking to Kwame Tutu in an interview on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm.

He said, he is very disappointed in Mahama Ayariga describing his allegation as unfortunate.

"I must say that I was disappointed in what Mahama Ayariga said. If he is trying to indicate that there is something going on underground, then that will be most unfortunate; most unfortunate in the sense that, that is the legislature. That is the law making place of the country…We have to know if it is an assumption or a reality.’’

According to him, Mahama Ayariga could have reported the allegation to the leadership of Parliament or the Privileges Committee before coming public.

He was of the view that, the public will have negative perception about Parliament as a corrupt institution.

Mr. Nyaunu said, the Bawku Central MP must prove beyond reasonable doubt that indeed the allegation was true since his integrity and that of Parliament was at stake.

The former legislator said, "if Parliament is forming a committee to interrogate Mahama Ayariga then they will better have to expand the committee because this thing has been put in the public domain. If it is in the public domain then the public must know everything that goes around it. Otherwise, Parliament can come and give us any conclusion and we will choose to believe or to believe them because their credibility has been put into doubt. So the public must be involved in the committee.’’

He concluded, the MP must also be sanctioned if it is established that his allegation was unfounded.