[ 2017-01-30 ]

Bribery scandal not surprising - K.B. Asante
Retired diplomat K.B. Asante has said that the
recent bribery allegation in parliament is not a
shocking revelation.

The elder statesman, who was answering a question
on the recent bribery scandal that has rocked the
House, stated: “Actually, the recent ones do not
surprise me much because I have heard from very
reliable sources that sometime ago this happened,
but I thought it was a minor one-off event. But as
it is now, it appears it has become normal.”

Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga had alleged that
then-Energy Minister-designate Boakye Agyarko had
offered cash through Appointments Committee
chairman Joe Osei-Owusu, to be shared among
Minority MPs on the committee.

Mr Ayariga had alleged that GHS3000 was paid to
each of the NDC MPs by Minority Chief Whip
Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, an amount they thought
was sitting allowance for MPs on the committee,
but returned the monies when they heard a rumour
that the amount had actually come from Mr Agyarko
to influence them to endorse his nomination as
minister.

Mr Osei-Owusu and Mr Muntaka have both denied the
allegation.

Mr Asante, who was speaking in an interview on
Class FM, told Moro Awudu, host of the Executive
Breakfast Show, that parliament must stamp its
authority to redeem its image, which seems to be
dented.

“It is an issue of public interest and action
should be taken to put things right,” he said on
Monday, January 30.

He has also suggested that Mr Agyarko steps aside
until he is cleared after investigations are
conducted.

“It is a good idea that he should leave the
scene. You cannot work with a minister with so
many allegations especially when we have so many
important things to do. So yes, here, the
president should step in [but] not in the public
domain. But he should call the minister and ask
him: ‘In the circumstances, will you please
resign so that we go into this matter and if
everything is fine I will find another thing for
you to do?’ In my opinion, yes, he should call
him not publicly but quietly and say please I
expect you to resign on this matter so that you
can clear your name,” he emphasised.

Source - classfmonline.com

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