[ 2017-02-20 ]

I have no direct evidence to back bribery claims - Mahama Ayariga
Bawku Central Member of Parliament, Mahama Ayariga
has said he has no direct evidence which will
prove that members of Parliament's Appointment
Committee received a bribe from the then Minister
of Energy, Mr Boakye Agyarko, to facilitate his
approval.

According to him, his allegation was after he
found out that the money was not allowances meant
for the previous Appointment Committee sitting.

He said this on Monday in Accra when he appeared
before the five-member ad hoc committee of
Parliament investigating the bribery allegation
which has rocked Ghana's legislature.

Mr Ayariga in his opening statement without
counsel said on the 27th January he received a
call from Accra-based radio station, Radio Gold to
comment on a bribery allegation in Parliament.

He recounted his version of events, stating that
he received money from the Minority Chief Whip,
Alhaji Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka which he thought
was their sitting allowance but when he was told
it was a money coming from a ministerial nominee
he together with other minority members on the
appointment committee returned the money.

Hon Ayariga explained that the money was returned
only after he found out it was not a sitting
allowance for previous Appointment Committee
hearings.

The Bawku Central MP also reaffirmed that he had
no direct-dealings with either Mr Agyarko or the
chairman of the Appointment Committee Joseph
Osei-Owusu in receiving the money.

In response to a query as to whether he could
confirm the allegations of bribery made against Mr
Agyarko, Mr Ayariga explained that this is why he
asked the Minority Chief Whip, Alhaji Muntaka to
investigate the matter in his initial complaint.

Source - Graphic.com.gh

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