Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has urged anyone with evidence of bribery in the approval process of ministerial nominees to step forward and present their case.
His call follows allegations made by activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor, who accused Parliament’s Appointments Committee of demanding money from nominees in exchange for their approval.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, Ayariga dismissed the claims and underscored the importance of maintaining integrity in governance.
“Protecting one’s integrity is sometimes even more important than the work you do. If you are perceived as someone with integrity, it will take you far,” the Bawku Central MP asserted.
Invitation to Substantiate Claims
Ayariga revealed that upon hearing the allegations, he encouraged the Chairman of the Appointments Committee to formally invite Barker-Vormawor to provide evidence.
“I said, call him. Let him come and substantiate his claims. If there’s any truth to it, we need to deal with it openly and transparently,” he stated.
He questioned whether Barker-Vormawor had any firsthand knowledge of money exchanging hands.
“At least, he spent a few days on the committee. What direct evidence does he have that money was given to members in exchange for approving nominees?” Ayariga asked.
He further emphasized that he personally has no knowledge of such dealings.
“I am unaware of any such thing, which is why I think he should come forward. Maybe he has something. In this country, all sorts of things happen,” he added.
Rejecting Sector-Based Influence in Approvals
Ayariga also recounted an encounter with an individual from a particular industry who sought to “help” a ministerial nominee secure approval.
“I met someone who operates in a sector, and they said, ‘Our sector minister is up for vetting this week, so we want to support him.’ I asked, ‘Has the minister asked for this support?’ The person said, ‘No, no, we just want to help,’” he narrated.
He firmly rejected the notion of mobilizing funds for approvals, stating that it is unnecessary and unacceptable.
“I told them, ‘There’s no need for you to raise money to support your minister’s approval. We wouldn’t even accept it,’” he stressed.
Ayariga reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to institutional credibility, encouraging anyone with evidence of bribery to present it.
“If anyone has proof that money has been given to members of the Appointments Committee, they should come forward. We are committed to building institutions with integrity, where Ghanaians have confidence in the process,” he declared.
No Need for Bribes in Current Parliament
The Majority Leader also questioned the logic behind the allegations, arguing that with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in power and holding a strong parliamentary majority, nominees do not need to pay for approval.
“The NDC is in power. We have 184 MPs, plus four independent MPs, two of whom are originally NDC. The others, though independent, work with us. We have the numbers to approve any nominee,” he explained.
“No nominee needs to offer a bribe because, as a party, our MPs vote in line with party decisions. The only time a nomination could be withdrawn is if there’s a legitimate issue with the candidate’s credentials or background,” Ayariga added.
He further pointed out that many of the nominees are already sitting Members of Parliament (MPs), which constitutionally qualifies them for ministerial positions.
“Most of them are MPs, and under the Constitution, they meet the basic requirements to be ministers. So, what would be the need for bribery?” he asked.
In conclusion, Ayariga reiterated his confidence in the process and stated that he would be surprised if Barker-Vormawor produced any evidence.
“There is no nominee with any serious challenge in this vetting process. So, there’s no need for anyone to offer bribes. I have not seen it, and I would be very surprised if he presents anything tomorrow,” he insisted.
SOURCE: http://dew360.net
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