The Speaker of parliament Prof. Mike Oquaye is expected to make a formal statement on the floor of the House over calls to probe recent corruption allegations against parliament’s Appointments Committee.
There is intensified pressure on parliament to investigate the allegations that the Energy Minister tried to bribe members on the committee with Gh¢100,000.
The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central and Member of Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Mahama Ayariga last week accused the Energy minister of attempting to bribe the minority members of the committee, to clear him following his edgy vetting – but they rejected it.
According to him, the energy minister’s bribery attempt was made through the chairman of the committee, Joseph Osei Owusu which was given to the minority caucus by its chief whip, Muntaka Mubarak.
He had since petitioned the speaker of Parliament, Mike Oquaye to constitute a committee to investigate his claim.
The chairman of the committee, Osei-Owusu and Minority chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak have both denied the allegation, describing it as preposterous.
But the Executive Director of Africa Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Dr. Rasheed Draman has urged the leadership of parliament not to be protective in dealing with the bribery allegation.
Speaking Tuesday in an interview with Nii Arday Clegg on Morning Starr, he said the allegation was damning and not good for “our country and our democracy.”
He told Clegg that the leadership of parliament needs to thoroughly investigate the allegation to re-claim its damaged reputation.
“We need to claim back the image of Parliament. However we look at it, it is not a good time for our nation at all. The corruption allegation is not good for our country and our democracy,” said Mr. Draman.
“Our parliament should not take a protective stand but rather deal with the issue as it is,” he added.
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