Speaker pardons Ayariga after apology

The Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Ocquaye, has pardoned Mahama Ayariga, MP for Bawku Central, saying he should “go and sin no more” after he rendered an unqualified apology to parliament.

The Speaker in his ruling warned Mr Ayariga that he will not hesitate to press tougher sanctions against him if he repeats his conduct again.

The ruling came after the Joe Ghartey Committee tasked to investigate the allegation concluded that he was peddling rumours and that he had no evidence to back his claims.

The committee’s report found him guilty of contempt of Parliament and instructed him to apologize to the house.

In a defiant response, Ayariga said: "Mr Speaker if you want me to apologise, I apologise.”

This half-hearted apology did not go down well with the majority side in the house, leading to exchange of words.

The back and forth continued until the Speaker adjourned sitting to Friday [April 7] where he delivered his ruling after Ayariga read his apology.

Background

Ayariga claimed in a radio interview that the Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko, sent money to the minority side on the Appointments Committee in an attempt to influence their decision on his approval after he was vetted for the position.

The allegations shock the Appointments Committee on both sides of the house with Joe Osei Owusu (the committee’s chair) and Mubarak Muntaka (on the minority side) implicated.

The pair, together with Boakye Agyarko have denied the allegations and described it as unsubstantiated.

His allegations were backed by two others; Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and first time legislator Alhassan Suhini.

The five member committee, chaired by Joe Ghartey, Member of Parliament (MP) for Essikado-Ketan Constituency, was set up by the Speaker Professor Mike Ocuaye in January 2017 to investigate the bribery scandal on the Appointments Committee of Parliament.