Salary saga: No plans by government to taint political opponents – Majority leader

Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has rebuffed claims from the Minority that the recent investigation launched into the alleged payment of double salaries to some officials of the Mahama administration is an act of political witch hunt.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID), over the past week, has lined up some members of the minority to assist with investigations into the matter.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also said there is no plan by the government to taint its political opponents, but that the gravity of the payment irregularities requires a proper probe to forestall future occurrences.

“I am part of the government. I don’t know of any government scheme to accuse members of the NDC [National Democratic Congress]. As far as I am concerned, and I keep insisting, it is something that should concern the entire nation,” he said.

In line with this, Parliament announced the formation of a two-member bi-partisan committee to investigate the matter.

Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the committee is expected to provide some clarity on the issue to put it to rest.

Background

The CID cited some NDC MPs who served as ministers or deputy ministers for allegedly taking double salaries.

25 of the MPs were initially asked to report to the police, but 18 of them were later asked to disregard that invitation.

But so far, about eight of them have been interrogated by the CID and are being investigated for stealing; an allegation the Minority in Parliament has rejected.

Meanwhile, there are reports in the media that the Majority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to intervene to safeguard the integrity of Parliament; a claim one of the lawyers for the indicted MPs, Victor Adawudu has denied.

Already, Parliament has announced the formation of a two-member bi-partisan committee to investigate the double salaries scandal.