The Bawku Central Member of Parliament Mahama Ayariga has been ordered to apologize to Parliament for bringing the name of the August House into disrepute.
This was after he gave credence to an allegation that the minority members on the Appointment Committee of Parliament has been bribed by then Energy Minister-designate, Boakye Agyarko.
Ayariga that the Chairman of the Appointment Committee Joe Osei Owusu had given Ȼ3,000 each to minority members of the committee to approve the Minister of Energy nominee at the time.
Ayariga told an Accra-based radio Station Radio Gold that the money was given to the Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak for onward distribution to the members of the Minority.
After two months of investigations by a committee led by Joe Ghartey, they established a case of contempt against the the Bawku Central MP.
He said by publishing rumours about bribery allegations against members Ayariga has in no small way injured the reputation of Parliament and soiled the dignity of the first deputy Speaker of Parliament Joe Osei Owusu who he alleged paid bribes to Minority Members on the Appointment Committee of Parliament on behalf of the then Minister of Energy nominee Boakye Agyarko.
The Committee recommended that:
- The Hon. Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga be reprimanded by the Rt. Hon. Speaker in accordance with Section 35 of the Parliament Act 1965, (Act 300).
- That Mr. Mahama Ayariga renders an unqualified apology to the House, purging himself of contempt.
This conclusion, according to Hon. Joe Ghartey was reached after they took notice of the fact that Hon. Mahama Ayariga is not known to engage in acts that tends to disrupts the smooth proceedings of Parliament.
“Neither does he have the penchant nor reputation of engaging in activities which can bring the image and reputation of Parliament into disrepute. Accordingly, we view the recommendation relating to sanctions adequate in the circumstances” he stated.