MEMBER of Parliament (MP) for Bekwai Constituency in the Ashanti Region and the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Joseph Osei-Owusu’s, request to go to court to clear his name of bribery allegation has been shot down by the Speaker of Parliament.
Hon. Osei-Wusu was seeking permission from Parliament to resort to the law court to clear his name in a bribery allegation that has been brought against him and the Minister of Energy by the Bawku Central Member of Parliament, Mahama Ayariga.
The Bekwai lawmaker explained that his reputation and integrity has been badly affected by the allegation.
Hon. Osei-Owusu made the request yesterday on the floor of Parliament when the bribery issue was officially brought to the House for discussion but his request was shot down.
His request was stated in a statement he delivered personally in the chamber on the matter of bribery allegation, saying “I’ve never discussed, requested, demanded or received money of whatever quantum for myself or committee members from Hon. Agyarko or any other person for that matter. Neither have I discussed, offered or given any money to Hon. Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak for himself or for members of the Minority on the Appointments Committee.”
He insisted that the allegations by Hon. Ayariga were a “colossal untruth” which has done grievous damage to “my reputation, my hard-earned integrity.”
It would be recalled that Hon Ayariga on Friday, January 27, 2017 made wild allegation against the Energy Minister, Hon. Agyarko, of bribing the ten minority members of the committee with GHC3,000 each when he realised that the minority had refused to pass him for the position, following comments he made about former President John Dramani Mahama during his vetting.
The Bawku Central MP alleged that the money was given to the Minority Chief Whip, Hon. Muntaka, by the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Hon. Osei-Owusu, for onward disbursement; a claim other MPs , including Hon. Hon. Alhassan Suhuyini and Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa had confirmed.
But Hon. Osei-Wusu who has in some previous interviews in the media flatly denied the allegation, explained that the decision on the approval of Mr. Agyarko was taken the same day at the close of the day’s vetting.
“The charge of bribery for the majority to pass the nominee therefore does not fit in the equation as the nominee had already been recommended to be passed by the majority the same night the nominee was vetted.”
“I crave your indulgence to assist me to ventilate my grievance in court, if I am successful, it may help redeem the image of this Parliament, which is often battered by its own members,” he cried.
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