The Chairman of an Ad-hoc Committee of Parliament set up to investigate the bribery scandal that rocked the Appointments Committee of Parliament has debunked assertions of conflict of interest made by critics.
According to Joe Ghartey said the conflict of interest claims by a section of the public have no basis.
He quoted Article 284 of the constitution which said for a conflict of interest situation to arise, a public officer must put himself in a position to be compromised and nothing like that has happened.
Joe Ghartey said claims that he was a ministerial nominee and was to appear before the same committee he is expected to investigate is without basis, adding, that he will not recuse himself as chair of the ad-hoc committee.
The committee will on Wednesday February 15, 2017 begin its public hearing on the bribery allegations levelled against some members of the Appointments Committee of Parliament by the then Energy Minister designate Boakye Agyarko to approve him.
The committee members include: MP for Essikado-Ketan and Minister of Railways Development Joe Ghartey-Chairman, Ben Abdallah-MP, Ama Pomaah Boateng-MP, Magnus Kofi Amoateng-MP and B.T. Baba-MP.
Joe Ghatey said the committee may only call four witnesses to testify in the scandal that has challenged the integrity of the Legislature.
The witnesses to be invited are Chairman of Appointments Committee Joe Osei Owusu, Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak, Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko and Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga.
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