Probe Businessman Who Attempted To Bribe MPs; OccupyGhana Petitions OSP

Pressure group Occupy Ghana has called for a probe into allegations of attempted bribery asserted by some members of the majority caucus in Parliament.

In a petition to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), OccupyGhana said the allegation falls within the remits of the Office.

In an interview with JoyNews, the Asante Akim North Member of Parliament, Andy Appiah Kubi revealed a businessman in the country approached and offered a money-impregnated envelope to members of the majority caucus calling for Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta to be sacked.

According to him, the businessman wanted them to abandon their demand for the removal of the Minister.

“He {the businessman} said it is not in the interest of the business community to see this confusion in governance and therefore for the sake of the business community let us ensure there is tranquillity in the political space.

“He {the businessman} said he had come to talk to us; we had given him the opportunity to address us and therefore he wants to leave something behind for us. Indeed he got somebody to bring it {a big envelope containing money} and we said ‘sorry we cannot take anything.’ We returned the money to him and he took it away”, Appiah Kubi told the show host.

Describing the envelope which was offered to them, he said “It was a big envelope”

He, however, refused to name the businessman.

In its petition to the OSP, OccupyGhana said the conduct of the said businessman is a “potential corruption offence”.

“In these interviews, the MPs alleged that an unnamed, wealthy businessman had attempted to bribe them. That would be an attempt to influence the conduct of MPs in the course of their official duties, a potential corruption offence that falls within the remit of your office.”

It wants the Office to investigate the allegation and prosecute the said businessman if the allegations are found true.

Background
On Tuesday, October 25, about 80 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament demanded the dismissal or resignation of the Finance Minister as well as the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen over what they described as a downturn in economic growth.

The disgruntled MPs threatened to boycott the government’s businesses and the budget reading if their demand was not acted upon by the President.

But following a meeting with the President on Tuesday evening, the MPs reportedly acceded to Akufo-Addo’s plea to keep the Minister at the post till he completed the negotiations he started with the International Monetary Fund (IMF); read the budget; and passed the Appropriation Bill.

Meanwhile, the Minority In Parliament has filed a motion to impeach the Minister citing a conflict of interest in the conduct of his mandate; unconstitutional withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund; illegal payment of oil revenue into offshore accounts; deliberate and dishonest misreporting of economic data to Parliament; fiscal recklessness; and incompetence for the motion.

The motion has been admitted by the Speaker.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini