Leadership of Parliament to review bribery allegations against Appointments Committee today

Leadership of Parliament will Tuesday review bribery allegations levelled against the Appointments Committee. 

This comes after three of the minority members of the Committee, Mahama Ayariga, MP for Bawku Central, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa MP for North Tongu and Alhassan Suhuyini MP for Tamale north constituencies, wrote to the Speaker calling for a thorough investigation into the bribery claims against the Minister of Energy, Boakye Agyarko. 

The three, in a letter addressed to the Speaker, want the House to initiate an internal investigation to ascertain the veracity of their claims against the Minister. 

The MPs said they will subject themselves fully to processes of the inquiry. 

The first Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joseph Osei Owusu said the House will take a decision on the matter Tuesday. 

On Monday, vetting of Ministers was almost suspended in view of the bribery allegation but leadership of the Appointments Committee went ahead with the vetting after it realised that it could affect the President's effort at constituting his government as soon as possible. 

The Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu pledged his support to investigations into the bribery allegation. 

He said the allegation puts the Committee in a bad light and must be thoroughly investigated to enable the Committee and its members to serve with dignity. 

Meanwhile, MP for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini is confident the Speaker will review the bribery allegation and conduct thorough investigations into it. 

In an interview with Radio Ghana, Mr Suhuyini did not deny the bribery allegations. 

In a related development, a governance Think-tank, Strategic Thinkers Network, STRANEK is calling for the new energy minister, Boakye Agyarko to step aside as investigations start on an alleged bribery issue involving him. 

Speaking to Radio Ghana, the Executive Director of STRANEK, Nii Tettey Tetteh said if government does not ask Mr Agyarko to step aside it will be a blot on the image of the new administration. 

He added that if nothing is done concerning their initial calls for Mr Agyarko to step aside, they will petition the President.

GBC