Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has clarified the events surrounding the handling of former Energy Minister-nominee Boakye Agyarko during the 7th Parliament, asserting that there was no intention to undermine the authority of then-Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu.
Speaking on Accra-based Channel One TV, Mr. Ayariga addressed longstanding perceptions of tension between himself and Mr. Iddrisu arising from the incident.
He acknowledged that the events may have given the impression of a rift but maintained that no deliberate effort was made to challenge Haruna Iddrisu’s leadership.
“That was the beginning of the 7th Parliament because, at that time, there were misunderstandings regarding how we treated Hon. Agyarko when he was nominated as the Minister for Energy,” Ayariga stated.
“It led to some thinking that there was a rift between myself and Haruna Iddrisu. But that has never really been the case. I think we were probably a bit over-exuberant… but it wasn’t a deliberate decision to undermine his authority as the leader. Subsequently, we apologised.”
Background
The controversy began in February 2017, ahead of Boakye Agyarko’s ministerial confirmation.
Mahama Ayariga accused Agyarko of attempting to bribe minority members of the Parliamentary Appointments Committee through then-Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, to secure his approval as Minister of Energy.
In response, the then Speaker of Parliament, Aaron Mike Oquaye, set up an ad hoc parliamentary committee to investigate the matter.
The Joe Ghartey Committee eventually exonerated Agyarko but found Ayariga guilty of contempt of parliament for making false allegations, which brought the institution into disrepute.
Ayariga was subsequently directed to issue an apology on the floor of Parliament and was cautioned to exercise restraint in his future actions.
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