[ 2017-01-31 ]

Rt. Hon. Joseph Osei-Owusu

I now understand why people don’t trust us again - Osei-Owusu
Mr. Joseph Osei-Owusu, the Chairman of the
Appointments Committee of Parliament, Monday
expressed sadness at the extent to which Mahama
Ayariga's allegations of bribery have affected the
integrity of the House and members of the
parliament.

In a heartfelt opening statement before the
business of vetting ministerial nominees began
Monday, he said the outcome of the investigation
would purge and restore the integrity of the
members of the Committee.

“I feel a lot of pain in my heart as I am
sitting here, and I don’t know whether some
people in this country are being cynical or not,
but I now understand why people don’t trust us
again,” he said.

“If anyone had wanted to influence the decision
of the Committee then that person should have paid
the bribe to us before the vetting process.”

This is not the first time parliament has come
under the corruption radar. There have been loud
rumours of the Appointments Committee allegations
by former members of the house and some
respectable private citizens but Ayariga's is one
os such to rock the appointments committee

But Mr Mahama Ayariga, the Member of Parliament
for Bawku Central and Member of the Committee has
accused Mr. Boakye Agyarko, the Minister of Energy
of allegedly giving bribe to the Chairman of the
Committee to share among the members of the
Committee to influence his approval, after the
vetting.

The former Minister in the Mahama-led government
last week told the media that when he received a
tip-off that the GHc3000 he received from the
Committee was not his sitting allowance but a
bribe from Mr. Boakye Agyarko, he and the other
members on the Minority side returned the money.

However, the Chairman of the Committee said since
he joined the Committee, in 2009. It had never
deferred its decision on a nominee to the next
day, but after every sitting they deliberated on
whether a nominee would be approved by consensus
or otherwise.

Mr Osei-Wusu said he objected to a suggestion, at
an earlier meeting, that the vetting be suspended
until the investigations had been completed
because it would impede Government business.

He, therefore, suggested that the Appointments
Committee be reconstituted.

Three Ministerial-nominees were vetted Monday-
Madam Otiko Afisah Djaba, the nominee for the
Gender, Children and Social Protection Ministry,
and Mr Daniel Kwaku Botwe, the nominee for
Regional Re-organisation and Development followed
Dr Anthony Osei–Akoto, nominee for Monitoring
and Evaluation.

Source - GhanaWeb.com

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