Joe Ghartey chairs parliamentary committee to probe bribery allegations

The Speaker of Parliament Mike Ocquaye has constituted a five-member committee to look into the corruption allegation made by some members of the minority in parliament.

Mahama Ayariga said on Accra-based Radio Gold that the Energy Minister Agyarko sent money to the minority side in an attempt to influence their decision on his approval after he was vetted for the position.

The NDC Member of Parliament said they (the minority) received the money thinking it was sitting allowance for being part of the Appointments Committee only to be told it was coming from the minister designate.

He said they rejected the money and asked that the money be returned to him.

But the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joe Osei Owusu, subsequently denied this allegation and described it as “illogical and ill-motivated” on the floor of parliament.

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The members of Special Committee are:

1. Joe Ghartey (Chair)

2. Ben Abdallah

3. Ama Pomaa Boateng

4. Amoatey Kofi Magnus

5. B. T Baba

Even though the Majority leader in parliament thought the ad-hoc committee should work within their own time frame the speaker of parliament caused him to suggest a working period, he said “I suggest that we give the special committee a period of not more than 4 weeks.”

Commenting on the matter the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said "we need to redeem our personal reputations and that of parliament."

“It is fit and proper for the special committee to be set up to investigate the bribery allegations,” Mike Ocquaye said

Meanwhile the speaker of parliament cautioned Members of Parliament to desist from commenting further on the corruption allegation in the public.