Parliament has denied claims that Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko attempted bribing members of the Appointments Committee to approve him, after his nomination.
Minority member of the Committee, Mahama Ayariga, who first made the claim has insisted the minister, through the chairman of the committee, gave members GHC3000 each, but was rejected by the minority caucus.
The chairman and the minister have both denied the claim.
In a statement signed by the acting Director of Public Affairs, Kate Addo, Parliament said the allegation is untrue and baseless.
“Parliament has noted with grave concern, allegations that the Leadership and Members of the Appointments Committee have been bribed by some of the President’s nominees to facilitate the recommendation of approval of their nomination as ministers to the House.
“Parliament will like to state categorically and without any equivocation that these allegations are frivolous and vexatious, and should be discarded,” the statement noted.
It added: “Parliament attaches a lot of importance to its constitutional duties and abhors practices that will not only affect its work but also bring the institution into disrepute. Therefore extreme care is taken and thorough background checks are made before chairpersons to the various committees are appointed. This is to ensure that the works they oversee are meticulously carried. Parliament will therefore like to state that no such event has taken place and anybody having any information to the contrary must resort to the laws of the land and take the appropriate action for redress”.
