Tamale North MP Alhassan Suhuyini has described the report by the Ghartey Committee on the bribery allegation as a sham.
According to him, he listened with “unhappiness” as the Chairman of the Committee, Joe Ghartey, presented the report in parliament on Thursday, March 30.
“I had no other way of expressing my unhappiness because that sitting was very structured. I kept my calm and could not even laugh at the dry jokes that the committee chairman told in the midst of his presentation, because I thought the whole process was just a charade,” he noted.
The Ghartey Committee was tasked to investigate the bribery claim made by Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga against the leadership of the Appointments Committee.
In its 56-page report, the committee said it “came to the firm conclusion that Mr Mahama Ayariga is in contempt of parliament on the strength of Article 122 of the 1992 Constitution, section 32 of the Parliament Act, 1965 (Act 300) and Orders 28 and 30 (2) of the Standing Orders of Parliament”.
The Committee said it “came to this conclusion because Mr Mahama Ayariga failed to prove that indeed Hon Boakye Agyarko [Energy Minister] gave money to Hon Joseph Osei-Owusu [Chairman of the Appointments Committee] to be distributed to the members of the Appointments Committee with a view to bribe them”, as alleged by Mr Ayariga in an interview he granted Radio Gold.
The Committee has, thus, recommended that having established a case of contempt against Mr Ayariga as well as having examined the sanctions regime available, recommends to the house the following:
1. That the Hon member for Bawku Central Mr Mahama Ayariga, be reprimanded by the Rt Hon Speaker in accordance with section 35 of the Parliament Act, 1965 (300)
2. That Mr Mahama Ayariga render an unqualified apology to the House, purging himself of contempt.
The five-member ad hoc committee chaired by Essikado Ketan MP Joe Ghartey said it “took notice of the fact that the Hon Mahama Ayariga is not known to have engaged in acts that tend to disrupt the smooth proceedings of parliament. Neither does he have a penchant nor reputation of engaging in activities which can bring the image and dignity of parliament into disrepute. Accordingly we view the recommendation relating to the sanctions adequate in the circumstances”.
Mr Suhuyini revealed on Class FM’s Executive Breakfast Show on Monday April 3 that he was able to react to the outcome of the probe only after the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, had spoken, after which he retorted “yeah yeah, shook his hand, and sat back”.
He continued: “It was at that point that I saw Honourable Napo gesturing violently and scornfully. I paid attention and realised he was insulting.”
For him, he had no choice than to reply the Minister of Education, whom he said had told him that he was mad.
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
