Parliament ‘bribe cash’ was GHS100,000 – Kwesi Pratt

The Editor-In-Chief of the Insight Newspaper, Kwasi Pratt Jnr. has made a shocking revelation that the alleged bribe money originally payed to the members of the Vetting Committee of Parliament to induce them approve Energy Minister-designate, Boakye Agyarko was a whooping GHS100,000.

According to him, only three MPs have so far come public for receiving GHS3,000 each out of the amount, therefore there is the possibility that more MPs might have benefitted from larger amounts as their shares of the allege ‘bribe’.

Speaking on Peace FM Morning Show, the astute Journalist analyzed that, investigation into the matter could even prove that the money maybe be more than GH100,000 as being speculated.

“In all this saga, what we have all heard is that the amount of money that went as bribe to the committee was GHS100,000. And when three people go sharing GHS100,000 there will be some left. Maybe investigation could even prove that the money was more than GHS100,000,” he told the host.

Mr. Pratt who sounded to have more inside information on the saga intimated that, Alhaji Muntaka, the Asawase MP can no longer hold himself as a Minority Chief Whip in parliament if investigations establish any truth in the whole bribery scandal.

He also added that, he is particularly worried about the controversy surrounding the appointment of Mr Boakye Agayrko since there is no single evidence to establish that the said bribe money came directly from him.

“It is a bit strange that five good MPs have come out to admit they took the money but returned it and yet people are claiming it’s not true. If it were to be just one MP it could be easy to rubbish the allegations but for five MPs to conspire and lie against Alhaji Muntaka because they don’t like him then I think it calls for investigations," Mr Pratt submitted.

The Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga on Friday January 27 alleged that, Boakye Agyarko, Minister of Energy, whose approval was frozen pending the determination of certain issues, dished out GHS3000 as bribe to each of the minority members on the committee with the aim to influence them so they approve his nomination without further delay.

Mr Ayariga claimed the money was given to Committee Chair Joe Osei-Owusu by Mr Agyarko, who in turn channelled it through Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak to the MPs, who, according to the Bawku Central MP, subsequently rejected it.

Other two MPs backing the bribery allegations against Mr Agyarko are Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Alhassan Suhuyini.