The Leadership of Parliament has urged the Ghanaian public to disregard a claim by Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, to the effect that a ministerial nominee for Energy and Petroleum, Boakye Agyarko, who has since been sworn into office, attempted to bribe members of the minority on the Appointments Committee, to facilitate his recommendation for approval.
In a statement signed by acting Public Affairs Director of Parliament, Kate Addo, on Friday January 27, Parliament said “We have noted with concern, allegations that the leadership and members of the Appointment Committee, have been bribed by some of the President’s nominees to facilitate the recommendation of approval of their nomination as Ministers to the House.”
“Parliament would like to state categorically and without any equivocation that these allegations are frivolous and vexatious and should be disregarded.”
The statement further said “Parliament attaches a lot of importance to its constitutional duties and abhors practices that will not only affect its work but also bring the institution into disrepute.
Therefore extreme care is not taken and thorough background checks are made before chairpersons to the various committees are appointed.
This is to ensure that the works they oversee are meticulously carried.” The House concluded that, “Parliament will therefore like to state that, no such event has taken place and anybody having any information to the contrary, must resort to the laws of the land and take the appropriate action for redress.”