The Joe Ghartey committee has warned that the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joe Osei-Owusu, will undermine the dignity of Parliament if he pursues the bribery allegations against him in court.
The warning formed part of the Committee’s report which found the Bawku Central Member of Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, in contempt of Parliament for making the allegations which were said to be without substance.
The Committee deemed its investigation into the allegations adequate enough, and thus urged Mr. Osei-Owusu not to take the matter to court to clear his name as he had initially threatened.
“After this process by Parliament’s special committee to investigate this matter, we are of the view that to take this matter to court will be to undermine the dignity of Parliament. The courts have not hesitated on their part to say that parliament is a master of its own procedures and arguably its own proceedings.”
The Committee added that “we therefore resist the temptation into looking into the remits and the complaints and assertions made by the First Deputy Speaker about the matter any further than what has been done above and subject to our recommendations.”
The Bawku MP alleged that Boakye Agyarko, attempted to bribe the 10 minority members on the Appointments Committee with GHc 3,000 each to ensure the approval of his nomination as the Energy Minister.
Mr. Ayariga also said Mr. Osei-Owusu served as a courier for the bribe money, which was given to the Minority Chief Whip, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka for onward disbursement.
Committee’s recommendations
The Committee recommended that Mr. Ayariga be reprimanded by the Speaker of Parliament in accordance with section 35 of the Parliament Act, 1965 (Act 300).
It further recommended that Mr. Ayariga renders an unqualified apology to the House of Parliament thereby purging himself of contempt.
The Joe Ghartey committee arrived at its conclusion because Mr. Ayariga failed to prove that Mr. Agyarko gave money to Mr. Osei-Owusu to be distributed to Members of the Appointments Committee with a view to bribe them.
Source: citifmonline.com
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The House be told that they/it has lost that dignity 'longest time'. Individually few have so is high time they sanitized the House of Parliament for they make mockery of the state most a time. Approve of contracts without due diligence, absenteeism, lateness, weightless/shallow contribution by some to critical national issues. Are we serious that a crime of contempt to our noble House sanction if APOLOGY? Will same be required from non parliamentarian? Did the committee took the money from those who claimed the received it as exhibits? God save Ghana. Where lies the honour being forced on us to call MPs Honorable(meant for them to address each on the floor of Parliament) so so and so
It is most important, and should redound to the health and dignity of parliament, that Lawyer Joe Osei-Owusu pursue this sickening case in court to get brought out to the notice of the entire world community the details of allegations that make the case. The Ghana parliament must grow to outgrow such filth as we have now that is is trying to draw laws for the country. The errors must never ever be stomached to re-occur. Ghana needs cleaning. Ghana needs doing right by what is accorded right for man.
The man ayariga says he dasnt respect the committee or the report including the fact that the committee didnt have power to parade criminal conclusion. Court is the best place then
but who says this parliament has dignity