Joe Ghartey Committee report out Wednesday
The outcome of the investigations into the bribery allegation made against the chairman and some members of the Appointments Committee of Parliament (ACP) will be known next Wednesday when the ad hoc committee that investigated the matter presents its report to Parliament.
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The Deputy Majority Leader and Vice Chairperson of the Business Committee of Parliament, Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo, made this known yesterday when she presented the business statement of Parliament for the 11th week ending March 30, 2017.
She said on Thursday, March 30, 2017, the House was billed to adopt the report of the committee.
The Joe Ghartey Committee
Parliament set up the five-member ad hoc committee to investigate the allegation that each member of the ACP was given GH¢3,000 bribe by the then Minister designate for Energy, Mr Boakye Agyarko, to facilitate his approval.
The committee is chaired by the MP for Esikado/Ketan (NPP) and former Second Deputy Speaker, Mr Joe Ghartey, with Mr Ben Abdallah Banda, the MP for Offinso South (NPP); Ms Ama Pomaa Boateng, the MP for Juaben (NPP); Mr Magnus Kofi Amoatey, the MP for Yilo Krobo (NDC), and Mr Benson Tongo Baba, the MP for Talensi (NDC), as the members.
The committee is charged to investigate the allegation that the Chairman of the ACP, Mr Osei-Owusu, had taken money from Mr Agyarko and given same to the Minority Chief Whip and Deputy Ranking member on the ACP, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, to be given to Minority members on the committee.
It is to enquire whether attempts had been made to bribe members of the ACP and also look into any related matters.
It was given one month to submit its report to Parliament.
Genesis of the allegation
In a radio interview, Mr Mahama Ayariga alleged that Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak gave each member of the Minority on the ACP GH¢3,000.
He said following rumours that the money was brought by Mr Agyarko, he confronted Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak about the source and Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak told him that it was Mr Osei-Owusu who gave it to him, with the explanation that the money was from Mr Agyarko.
Mr Ayariga said following that revelation, he, together with his colleagues in the Minority, returned the money because initially they had thought it was a sitting allowance.
But Mr Osei-Owusu denied taking any money from Mr Agyarko, while Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak also denied giving any money to Mr Ayariga.
Mr Agyarko also refuted the allegation that he had given money to members of the ACP and threatened legal action against Mr Ayariga.