Bribery Scandal: CHRAJ would have done an independent job - Prophet Kobi

Parliament has set up a special committee to spearhead an internal inquiry into bribery allegations against the Appointments Committee but I don’t think Parliament must probe Parliament, founder and General Overseer of the Glorious Wave Ministries, Prophet Badu Kobi has said.

According to him, it would have been better if institutions like the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) probe the matter.

This he indicated will ensure an independent work. Speaking to Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm he said, "the truth is, I have heard about the bribery allegation. But you do not accuse somebody without seeing the truth and Parliament has initiated a process to probe but I don’t agree that Parliament must probe Parliament; because the person is going to be a Minister of State and so it must not be Parliament probing Parliament. It must be maybe, CHRAJ probing Parliament so it becomes independent,’’ he added.

The Prophet stressed that, the truth surrounding the saga will come out after the probe. He said spiritually the issue has been exposed but because Parliament has decided to probe it, let’s allow them do their work. When asked to tell what he saw spiritually and whether the bribe was given he said, ‘’I will not talk about it now’’.

He was however confident that the truth will come out adding, "if the truth comes out and Boakye Agyarko paid the bribe, he must be removed from office. If the truth comes out and Joseph Osei Owusu received the money from the Minister, he should be sanctioned. In that same manner, if Mahama Ayariga also lied, he should also be sanctioned.’’

Prophet Badu Kobi said there is one thing talking about being against corruption; there is another thing fighting against it. When you are not in government, you will make all kinds of pronouncement on corruption but when you finally assume the role of government, you will be exposed if indeed you meant what you said while fighting for power.

Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga alleged members of the Appointments Committee were offered GHC3,000 to approve Mr Boakye Agyarko ‘s bid for the Energy Minister.

He claimed all ten National Democratic Congress (NDC) members on the Committee returned the money to the minority Chief Whip after they were told it was given to them by Mr Agyarko to bribe them.

Tamale Central MP, Alhassan Suhuyini and North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa have corroborated Mr Ayariga’s claim. However, the two people implicated in the scandal - Mr Osei Owusu and Alhaji Muntaka - have each dismissed the claim describing it as a fabrication.

The committee members are:

(a) Essikadu/Ketan MP, Joe Ghartey as Chairman

(b) Offinso South MP Ben Abdallah Banda

(c) Juaben MP, Ama Pomaa Boateng

(d) Talensi MP, Benson Tongo Baba

(e) Yilo Krobo MP, Magnus Kofi Amoatey The terms of reference given the Special Committee are;

(a) To establish if First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu took money from Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko and gave it to Minority Chief Whip Alhaji Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka.

(b) To do an internal inquiry to find out whether there were attempts to bribe members of Appointments Committee

(C) To look into the remit of complaints and assertions made by First Deputy Speaker about the matter.