[ 2017-02-20 ]

I had no reason to bribe Appointments Committee – Agyarko
Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko, has  stated
categorically under oath that, he never bribed
Members of Parliament’s Appointments Committee,
ostensibly to get his nomination approved.

“I will state categorically without the fear of
contradiction that I have never contrived,
discussed or given any money to the First Deputy
Speaker, Hon. Joe Osei- Owusu for said purposes
namely to influence members of the committee to
weigh a decision in my favour,” Mr. Ayarko told
the special committee investigating the alleged
bribery scandal.

Giving reasons to support his claim that he never
bribed members of the Appointments Committee, Mr.
Agyarko said that his party had the numbers to
confirm his nomination even if the Minority had
decided not to approve him.

“I do not think I performed poorly…I was
convinced that with the 16/10 majority, my party
had the numbers to pass me …so I had no motive
whatsoever to influence or attempt to influence
anybody with regards to my confirmation.”

Asked whether he took any action after hearing
these allegations from the media, he said : “It
was on leaving the Speaker’s lobby; on my way
back , my phone kept ringing but I did not pick
until I got to the Flagstaff House where there was
a hoard of newsmen trying to  thrust microphones
in my face, asking about my attempt to bribe
somebody. I felt incredulous about the matter and
I said was without the fear of contradiction, I
had done no such thing, and I will not do such
thing.”

The Minister further explained that, he never
considered it an option to issue a rejoinder on
the allegation because he believed “the matter
was outlandish and will therefore fall on its
face.”

Mr. Boakye Agyarko made these comments when he
appeared before the 5-member ad-hoc committee as a
witness in the bribery scandal.

Source - citifmonline.com

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