Parliament erred in approving Agyarko –Murtala Mohammed

Parliament should have refrained from approving Energy Minister designate, Boakye Agyarko over bribery allegation, says Murtala Mohammed.

The former Member of Parliament for the Nanton constituency, Murtala Mohammed says it will be a suicidal mistake if the legislative arm of government fails to unravel the bribery allegation leveled against Mr. Boakye Agyarko.

According to him, the corruption allegation hanging on the neck of the nominee-Minister for Energy needs to be investigated to ascertain whether indeed he tried to bribe his way through to facilitate his confirmation as Minister.

“The leadership of the Minority must state their position clearly on this matter. In fact Parliament as a body must investigate this and if indeed the man actually bribed members of the Appointments Committee for his approval, then I think that someone must be going to court,” he posited.

Mahama Ayariga, a member of the Appointments Committee Friday stirred controversy when he claimed that an amount of GH¢3,000.00 handed each of the Minority members on the committee, which was initially assumed to be sitting allowances for committee work, had been returned to their Chief Whip, Mubarak Muntaka for onward dispatch to the Chairman of the committee after it was realized that the money was intended to procure their approval of a ministerial nominee.

Two more members of the Minority in Parliament have corroborated claims by Mahama Ayariga, the MP for Bawku Central.

The Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joe Osei-Owusu, who Mr. Ayariga alleged distributed the money to the MPs, has vigorously denied the claim.

Commenting on this development on Radio Gold‘s current affairs program, Alhaji & Alhaji Saturday, Murtala Mohammed, who once doubled as the Deputy Trade Minister of the past government urged the National Democratic Congress (NDC ) to show interest in unraveling the truth.

He said ” I have no doubt in the integrity of Mahama Ayariga.”

The Minister designate for Energy, Boakye Agyarko, who is alleged to be the source of the money, has denied the bribery allegation and said he would have his lawyers respond to the issue.

By : Kojo Boohene/
Micbamps25@gmail.com