Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Mr Vitus Azeem has called for the establishment of an independent body to investigate the corruption allegation made by former Majority Leader, Alban Bagbin against MPs.
The Nadowli Kaleo MP accused MPs of taking bribes at a seminar in Koforidua organised by the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund.
Mr. Bagbin said: “The reality is that MPs are Ghanaians and there is evidence that some MPs take bribes and come to the floor and try to articulate the views of their sponsors”.
His comments have caused parliament to set up a special committee to investigate the claims against MPs.
But speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr Azeem said “parliament may want to investigate their own member, but then we should have an independent body to investigate that whole issue of parliament taking monies from people to do their work.’’
According to him the investigation team made up of only parliamentarians will not inspire confidence in the general public.
“The point is that, this has been the practise of a number of institutions in this country; a policeman does something and you set up a committee made up of policemen to investigate etc. You do not have the confidence of the public when you do that,’’ he said.
Mr Azeem noted that for the outcome of the committee to be accepted by the public there should be some independent individuals outside parliament on the committee. “That will give better confidence in the public in the outcome of the investigations,’’ he noted.
Meanwhile, Labour Analyst, Kofi Davor has called for a national dialogue over the proposal for the government to suspend the full implementations of the Single Sine Salary Structure.
According to him there has to be a holistic approach in considering how much we spend on labour.
By: Evans Effah/citifmonline.com/Ghana