[ 2017-01-27 ]

I made bribery allegation up - Mahama Ayariga withdraws claim
Bawku Central Member of Parliament (MP), Mahama
Ayariga has withdrawn bribery allegation he made
against Energy Minister-designate, Boakye Agyarko
Friday.

Chairman of Parliament's Appointments Committee,
Joseph Osei Owusu made this revelation to Joy
News' Parliamentary Correspondent, Joseph Gakpo.

The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament said the
former Science and Technology Minister said he
made the claim up to "level the playing field"
because the nominee has impugned the reputation of
former President John Mahama.

MP for Bawku Central Constituency, Mahama Ayariga
has alleged on an Accra-based Radio Gold that
Energy Minister-designate, Boakye Agyarko gifted
the Committee the sum of GHC100,000.

He claimed National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs
on the Committee were offered GHC3,000 each, but
they rejected it after they were told of the
giver.

Mr Agyarko's approval together with Senior
Minister-designate, Yaw Osafo Maafo has been
scuttled by the NDC after some "inaccurate"
information they provided the Committee.

Minority members of the Committee have requested
the former Vice President of the Bank of New York
to produce evidence to back some corruption
allegations he made about former President John
Mahama.

Mr Agyarko has also claimed World Bank had
'breathed fire' down the neck of the former
Ghanaian leader to take a particular course of
action.

When quizzed to substantiate the claim his
explanation NDC members on the Committee found it
unsatisfactory, triggering attempts to torpedo his
approval.

The alleged money donated to the Committee was
construed by NDC legislators as an attempt to buy
their cooperation and bribe them to support his
approval.

The Majority had challenged Mr Ayariga to produce
evidence, but Mr Osei Owusu said the MP has
withdrawn his statement and apologised.

Source - Myjoyonline.com

... go Back