A journalist has petitioned the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the alleged Boakye Agyarko bribery scandal against Ghana’s parliament.
In his petition dated February 3, 2017, Listowel Nana Poku asked CHRAJ to forgo any other investigation into the matter by Parliament itself on the basis that “they are the alleged committers of or actors in this matter in question”.
Member of Parliament for Bawku Central alleged on January 27, 2017 that Mr Boakye Agyarko, then Energy minister-designate, attempted bribing the minority members on the Appointments Committee of Parliament with GHC3,000 each to facilitate his approval “without further resistance”.
The MP claimed they received the amount thinking it was payment of their sitting allowance only to be told later that it was money from Mr Agyarko who has since been approved and sworn in as the Energy Minister. The money has since been returned, Mr Mahama claimed.
Following a petition by Mr Ayariga, and two other members of parliament -Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Alhassan Suhuyini – to the Speaker of Parliament, a five-member committee of Parliament was set up on February 1 to investigate the matter.
The said committee is chaired by member of parliament for Essikado-Ketan and Railways minister-designate, Joe Ghartey, who was vetted by the Appointments Committee last week.
But Mr Poku has raised red flag over the setting up of a committee of parliament to investigate the matter that involves the House on the basis of natural justice, stating “no one should be a judge in his own case”.
He argued the speed with which Parliament approved the appointment of Mr Agyarko and his subsequent swearing in by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo despite the allegation, raises some questions, hence wants CHRAJ to investigate parliament and the presidency.
Click here for the full petition by Listowel Poku
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