Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga is asking for another opportunity to render an apology to parliament and the speaker over his belligerent conduct during Thursday’s sitting at which he rendered a conditional apology in connection with the bribery allegation he made against the leadership of the Appointments Committee, Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has revealed.
Mr Ayariga told parliament on Thursday that: “Mr Speaker, if you say I should apologise, I apologise.”
His reluctant apology followed two promptings by speaker Mike Oquaye for him to be mindful of the consequences of his words at that particular moment so he could do himself a favour by purging himself of the contempt of parliament verdict made against him by the five member ad hoc Joe Ghartey Committee that probed the bribery allegation.
Mr Ayariga had argued that he should have been given the opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses called in the matter and also questioned whether the committee had the power to find him guilty of being in contempt of parliament since according to him, under Order 191, the ad hoc committee did not have such powers.
His half-hearted apology has been criticised widely by the Majority and some pundits. Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Friday about the issue, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said Mr Ayariga wants to make amends concerning his conduct on the floor of the house on Thursday during a debate on the Ghartey Committee Report.
Source:Ghana/AccraFM.com
