Joe Osei Owusu is first witness in parliamentary bribe allegation probe

09:49 - 15 February 2017

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The committee is chaired by a former Attorney General and MP for Essikado-Ketan, Joe Ghartey.

The Chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament Joe Osei Owusu will be the first to appear before the five-member investigative ad-hoc committee investigating the bribery allegation made by three minority MPs.

The investigative ad-hoc committee formed by Parliament will begin sitting on Wednesday, February 15, 2017.

The committee has 30 days within which to present its report.

The four other members are MPs Ben Abdallah Banda (Offinso South), Ama Pomaah Boateng (Juabeng), Magnus Kofi Amoateng (Yilo Krobo) and Benson Tongo Baba (Talensi).

Mahama Ayariga said on Accra-based Radio Gold that the Energy Minister Agyarko sent money to the minority side in an attempt to influence their decision on his approval after he was vetted for the position.

The NDC Member of Parliament said they (the minority) received the money thinking it was sitting allowance for being part of the Appointments Committee only to be told it was coming from the minister designate.

He said they rejected the money and asked that the money is returned to him.

But the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joe Osei Owusu, subsequently denied this allegation and described it as “illogical and ill-motivated” on the floor of parliament.

Prof Mike Ocquaye on Tuesday, January 31, 2017, constituted the five-member committee to investigate the corruption allegation made by some members of the minority in parliament.