Ghana News – ‘NPP insiders behind Boakye Agyarko’s bribery allegation’

­­­Editor of the Al Hajj Newspaper, Alhaji Iddrisu Bature has alleged that some aggrieved elements within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) instigated the bribery allegation against Energy Minister, Boakye Kyeremanten Agyarko.

These persons, Alhaji Bature said sponsored the allegations just to dent the credibility of the man who ‘excelled’ at vetting and has shown signs that he is ever ready to solve Ghana’s energy crisis.

“The man excelled at vetting and everyone knew he would succeed but insiders within the NPP did not understand why a juicy ministry like Energy Ministry would be given to an ‘outsider’…,” he alleged.

According to him, Boakye Agyarko is considered an outsider in the NPP fraternity because he is not closer to the Akufo-Addo block within the party.

He thus predicted that the he would soon be axed from the ministry because the man looks set to not only tackling the energy crisis but also prevent kickbacks at the ministry.

“Watch the space, they know the man would succeed but would work to get him out [because] apart from Finance Ministry, this is the most juicy ministry, hence they intentionally planted the bribe story because he is considered an outsider…ask Ken Agyapong what he knows about this issue…,” he said pointing to Ken Agyapong who was a co-panelist on Adom TV’s Badwam on Tuesday.

This claim of Alhaji Bature was corroborated by the Assin Central MP, Ken Agyapong who also said an insider within the NPP also told him same story.

“A young minister called me yesterday (Monday, 6^th February, 2017) to ask me if I was aware that some persons who did not get appointment from the President are behind the bribery allegations against Boakye Agyarko,” he said on the show.

Background

Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga prior to the approval of Boakye Agyarko as Energy Minister claimed that the nominee tried bribing the minority members of the Appointments Committee.

He indicated that an amount of GHC 3000 was presented to him by Minority Chief Whip and MP for Asawase Hon. Muntaka Mubarak as “bribe” to facilitate the approval of Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko.

The allegation also has it that the money was given to Muntaka by chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joe Osei-Wusu on behalf of Boakye Agyarko.

However, the Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko and Chairman of the Committee Joe Osei-Wusu have both denied the allegations and threatened legal action.

The Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak also rubbished the bribery claims by his colleague on the minority side, Mahama Ayariga. He also expressed surprise at the conduct of the Bawku Central MP.

The denials notwithstanding, Mahama Ayariga and other minority MPs including Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Alhaju Suhuyini and Inusah Fuseini insisted the allegations are true and hence petitioned the speaker of Parliament to order a probe into it.

Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Ocquaye has since set up a five member committee to investigate the claims and produce the report within four weeks.