I apologised out of respect – Ayariga

Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayarga has said he apologised to parliament out of respect for his colleague members, even though he disagrees with the outcome of the Ghartey committee report.

According to him, his hands were tied after parliament voted to adopt the report, which found him guilty of contempt.

“The recommendations of the committee became the decision of the House and as a respectful member of the House, I then said… since you have already put the question and it has been voted and the decision has been taken that I should render an apology, I have to show respect to the 274 members sitting, so if you say I should apologize, I hereby apologize,” he told Citi FM.

He added: “My rendition of an apology is pursuant to a decision of the House which binds me. I am bound by the decision of the House to render an apology, whether I like it or not, I am bound by that decision.

“Whether that was from the bottom of my heart, whether I agree with the grounds on which you are asking me to apologize? That is for me to feel inside and decide whether I want to divulge or not”.

The former Sports minister was indicted by a 5-member ad hoc committee after he alleged the chairman of the Appointments Committee Joe Osei Owusu was used as a conduit by the Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko to bribe members to clear him during his vetting.

Ayariga was found culpable for not adducing enough evidence to back his claims and has been asked to “render an unqualified apology” to the Appointments Committee’s chairman and the House, because according to the fact finding committee, he has “gravely injured” the reputation of the committee chairman.

After several protestations, the former Sports Minister stated that “Mr. Speaker if you say I should apologise, I apologise.”