Some Ghanaians have observed with disappointment over what can be describe as ‘chaos’ that the characterized yesterday’s Parliamentary proceedings after the Joe Ghartey led committee presented its findings on the bribery allegation made against the chairman and some members of the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
According to a section of Ghanaians who spoke exclusively to GhanaWeb, the scene was an embarrassment to the country, as the peoples representatives failed to adopt a more diplomatic approach to amicably resolve the issue.
‘It is not a good thing for matured people them to behave in such a manner for we the young ones to emulate. When they do this how we are also expected to behave. I can’t advise them but I will only advise my colleagues not to emulate them’ one speaker noted.
Meanwhile some of the speakers alluded to the general impression that politicians and Members of Parliament for that matter are corrupt and may have taken the bribe as claimed by the Mahama Ayariga.
It was a near brawl between the Majority and Minority members in Parliament on Thursday evening following the release of the report of the Joe Ghartey committee that investigated bribery allegation made against the chairman and some members of the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
Some young Members of Parliament (MPs) from both sides moved to the Centre of the chamber trying to punch their colleagues for their disagreements.
But it took the intervention of some of the senior MPs to separate the two sides from attacking each other.
Background
Mahama Ayariga, Member of Parliament for Bawku Central leveled a bribery allegation against some members of the appointments committee indicating that Boakye Agyarko, Minister for Energy, had brought monies to be shared amongst them.
Following a public uproar, parliament set up a 5-member committee to investigate the allegation and give recommendations on how the house can cleanse its dented image.
On Thursday March 30, the committee presented its report on the floor and categorically stated that Mahama Ayariga, who made the allegation, did not have any evidence to back his claim.
The committee therefore indicted the MP and said he should ‘render an unqualified apology to the House.’ In rendering his apology, the MP raised some concerns about the entire process of the investigation and gave a conditional apology saying “…if you want me to apologise, then I apologise.”
This comment drew the house into heavy verbal banter for several hours, forcing the Speaker to adjourn proceedings. Following the latest decision of the speaker, the entire country would have to wait until further notice.
