Berekum West bribery – Prez must order arrest of culprits

Anti Corruption Advocate, Vitus Azeem has called on President Akufo Addo to as a matter of urgency order for the arrest of Berekum West DCE nominee Martin Obeng Agyei and assembly members who have admitted to engaging in bribery.

Berekum West DCE nominee Martin Obeng Agyei has admitted to paying GHC 2000 each to the 27 assembly members to get confirmation but they voted against him so he allegedly sent thugs after them for a refund.

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Speaking with Captain Smart on Adom Fm’s morning Show, Dwaso Nsem Mr Obeng Agyei explained that he paid the bribe of GHC 200 because he did not want to disappoint President Akufo-Addo for nominating him.

“I had no choice than to pay the bribe because the assembly members demanded it and I didn’t want to be accused of disgracing the President who nominated me”, he Justified.

According to him some of the assembly members have refunded the bribe because they recognized that they failed to honour their promise of confirming him.

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Meanwhile, Assembly Member for Nana Boakye Electoral Area Emmanuel Amankonah, who was chased by the thugs to the police station to refund the GHC 2000 says he took the bribe because politics is an investment venture and it was an opportunity for him to recoup his spent fortunes.

“I took the GHC2000 but I did not vote for the nominee. Politics is a business investment and I need to recoup the monies I have spent. Do you know the price of a poster? I even wanted more money.” He revealed.

But Vitus Azeem says President Akufo Addo must condemn the act and immediately order for the arrest of both the nominee and the assembly members.

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According to him, the issue is a test case for the president to prove how serious he is in the corruption fight.

“This is an opportunity for the President to walk his talk on his much-touted fight against corruption. if the police refuses to arrest the nominee and the assembly members, the President must order for their arrest after all he ordered for the arrest of Nyantakyi following the revelations in the Anas’ Number 12 Exposé,” he said.