The two; Benjamin Bampoe, who is the Tema Metropolitan Director and Francis Torsu, who is the New Juaben Municipal Director of the Department, were charged with conspiracy and corruption by a public officer.

[contextly_sidebar id=”SwEeJXAlx9P6UYYxSsz1upyBXMoDcqNu”]They were granted bail to the tune of GHc 30,000 each.

According to the prosecution, the two directors were captured on tape taking money from some investigative journalists who posed as foreign investors.

Plot against director

They were also captured revealing their plot to ensure the dismissal of the Director of the Department.

According to Saaka Salia, the man who made a formal complaint to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for the investigation of the two, the suspects revealed that the Roads and Highways Minister was open to taking bribes, and were willing to serve his interest if he paid a certain amount of money to him.

“For you to say that you are in town to ensure the removal of the current Urban roads director when you are a subordinate, you have to explain to the public,” Saaka Salia.

–

By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Urban Roads directors ‘caught’ taking bribe granted bail appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“Is she sure of telling me that I am taking goats, sheep, cows and money? Can she come out and say I have taken money from this person? She should come out and explain. I will not ask her to apologize; I’m going to take her to court,” Bugri Naabu fumed.

The Gender Minister had accused Bugri Naabu of handing out government jobs in exchange for items such as cows and goats.

There is a current standoff between the two members of the NPP after Bugri Naabu allegedly truncated a meeting organized by the Gender Minister in the region.

Bugri Naabu complained that the meeting was illegally organised because the hierarchy of the party in the region was not informed about it.

Incensed by the action however, Otiko Djaba on Tamale based North Star FM used harsh words against Bugri Naabu.

“I want him to stop telling lies about me and to stop collecting people’s things and promising them jobs he cannot give. When he goes and does that, after he has collected their money and their cows and goats, then he will come and put the trouble on Otiko. Otiko will not accept it. If Bugri wants trouble from me then the trouble will come,” she said.

Meanwhile, speaking to Accra based radio station, XYZ, Bugri Naabu said he won’t waste time asking the Gender Minister to apologize but would head straight to the court.

“I am coming to find out from her, she should show me the person who gave me money or I asked for money, the person who gave me cow or I asked for cow, the person who gave me sheep or goat if I asked for it. I am asking her that I need evidence, if no evidence; I’m putting her before court,” he said.

Bugri Naabu further explained that Otiko is fond of making unsubstantiated claims adding that “she’s been doing that, everybody in the party is fed up with her.”

“The president doesn’t want to take any action against her. So I am not going to wait for her to apologize, I will take her to court,” he added.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post I’ll sue Otiko – Bugri Naabu vows appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

On behalf of Ghanaians, I want to render an unqualified apology to you.

It seems you are the headmaster of a primary school instead of being the Speaker of the 7th Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana.

We are sorry that you have to deal with such unruly children masquerading as adults with willingness to serve our nation.

They tricked us into believing that they were indeed honourable adults and so we put them in the House and now we (you and the rest of us), have the misfortune of being ensnared by their antics.

In fact Sir, it is my opinion that, in light of recent events; members of the House desist from using the not only illusory, but the mendacious title ‘honourable.’

To make my point, I borrow and paraphrase the words of Oliver Cromwell and ask how do members of the House as a collective entity call themselves honourable when they have dishonoured by contempt of all virtue, and defiled by practice of iniquitous vices, the sanctity of the august House.

Sir, as Cromwell said, a factious crew, enemies to all good government; people who like Esau would sell their country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray their God for a few pieces of money, do not deserve to be called members of Parliament. I then ask; how do we then per our seemingly sane minds call such ‘honourable’?

Sir, no disrespect intended here, but there’s no honour in the House now.

Don’t get me wrong, I do know that there are some, probably a collective majority that who indeed men and women of honour.

However their honour has been clouded by the unscrupulous few within their ranks.

To us, the citizens, the engagements and collective conduct of this House are as honourable as Judas in the presence of thirty pieces of sliver.

With the ‘Ayarigate’ Report and the aftermath nearly free for all brawl that night, Sir, you are presiding over a degenerated House.

A House perceived to barter it’s conscience for bribes can surely not itself or its members demand from nation the title ‘honourable.’

To me; the only way the House can redeem itself, is to purge itself of the cancerous dishonourable members.

Sir; from the Report, the House has been hit in two ways. Although the multiplicity of a rumour does not metamorphose the rumour into fact, the committee could not debunk the veracity of the said rumour.

A rumour is not fact until proven to be the truth, and it is not a lie until proven to be false.

That is why hearsays are not used in the adjudication of criminal or civil matters in the court of law.However, none of us have physically seen God; yet a majority of us believe in Him based on rumours.

A person’s perception of any issue sometimes is solely moulded on rumours. So to some of us now, the House of our Legislature, is a den of bribe taking disingenuous liars with no iota of interest in the affairs of the nation.

Worse still; is the perception that there are members who will unintelligently act on rumours. How safe are we with such impetuous members as our representatives?

Sir, get rid of the identified Rumour Monger, no apology rendered would be enough to wipe the disgrace this debacle has regurgitated all over the House and the country.

Let his expulsion if for nothing at all; serve as a warning to other members not to act on rumours.

I wish you luck, there’s nothing more tedious than dealing with children with self-entitlement issues copulating with self-aggrandizing tendencies.

Thank You

Concerned Citizen
Pearl Asiamah/ Email: [email protected]

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The Bawku Central MP, who made the bribery claims, was found guilty of contempt of Parliament, following investigations by the committee which concluded that “Mr. Mahama Ayariga is in Contempt of Parliament on the strength of Article 122 of the 1992 Constitution, Section 32 of the Parliament Act, 1965 (Act 300) and Orders 28 and 30 (2) of the Standing Orders of Parliament.”

The committee, after rubbishing Mr. Ayariga’s bribery allegation, asked him to render an unqualified apology to purge himself of contempt.

But Mr. Ayariga who appeared unhappy with the work of the committee, reluctantly rendered the apology, saying : “Mr. Speaker, if you say I should apologize, I have apologized.”

Before this apology, he said the committee’s recommendations were problematic, especially when it failed to conduct due diligence by cross examining the “other sides” to arrive at a fair conclusion.

This is regardless of the fact that Mr. Ayariga and his other colleagues who made the allegation, failed to provide any hardcore evidence to support their claims.

He also questioned the powers of the committee to find him guilty of contempt.

“If you conclude that you want to use the criminal standards then you might as well have during the proceedings, used the criminal process, which is cross examining the other sides so that you can come to the conclusion that will enable you to exact criminal functions but you did not do that,” he queried.

The Committee also cleared Mr. Boakye Agyarko, the Energy Minister alleged to have paid the bribe of any wrongdoing. He was discharged together with Chairman of the Appointments Committee Joe Osei-Wusu and Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak.

The Speaker is expected to deliver his ruling tomorrow [Friday], on the recommendations of the committee.

He would decide whether or not Mr. Ayariga’s apology, which has already been condemned by some members would be accepted and the way forward.

The Bawku MP alleged that Boakye Agyarko, attempted to bribe the 10 minority members on the Appointments Committee with GHc 3,000 each to ensure the approval of his nomination as the Energy Minister.

Mr. Ayariga also said Mr. Osei-Owusu served as a courier for the bribe money, which was given to the Minority Chief Whip, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka for onward disbursement.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post ‘I apologise if you say I should’ – ‘Defiant’ Ayariga to Speaker appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Appearing before the five-member ad-hoc committee investigating the allegation today [Monday], February 20, the MP reiterated his position that he also never directly gave any money to Mahama Ayariga and other minority MPs, to convince them to approve the nomination of Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko.

“I have never been given any money from the Chairman Joe Osei-Owusu to be given to anybody telling that person that the Chairman has given me this money to give”.

When he was specifically asked to respond to the allegation that the said  bribe money of Ghc3,00 each for the minority MPs was returned to him upon realization that it was bribe money; the Asawase MP said ” Mr. Chairman this is a surprise to me because like I said, no such money was given to anybody so how could it be returned” he asked.

The Minority Chief Whip, who appeared before the Committee with his Lawyer, Sampson Ayenini, maintained his innocence throughout the hearing, saying that he was shocked that Mahama Ayargia, who is his best friend, could make such allegations against him.

Prior to him appearing before the Committee, Mahama Ayariga, who alongside two other minority MPs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Alhassan Suhuyini petitioned the House to investigate the matter, reiterated to the Committee today [Monday], that his allegations are true.

Mr. Ayariga however told the House to weigh his evidence, although he failed to produce any hardcore information to that effect.
–
By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post I didn’t receive or give out ‘bribe money’ – Muntaka tells Committee appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Two delegates have accused Dr. Dzani of bribing delegates after he won the race in the region, by polling 20 votes, against his closest contender, Nene Kanor Attiapah who had 12 votes.

[contextly_sidebar id=”6LUS8HQN02voJNeJ4m7L7lPH7bcWEgRn”]But speaking on the Point Blank segment of Eyewitness News, Mr. Dzani dismissed the bribery allegation , saying “even if a government wins the election, they say opposition rigged the election, so I am not bothered by these claims.”

Mr. Dzani’s comment agrees with that of the Head of Communications at the Electoral Commission, Eric Dzapasu’s account of the election, as he also stated that “nothing untoward happen” during the election.

“I didn’t see people taking pictures of their ballots. One person was going into the booth with his phone but his attention was drawn to that. The press, delegates and election officials were all there, nothing untoward happened at the election,” Mr. Dzapasu said.

The Greater Accra Region poll was an area of interest as the former National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Enoch Teye Mensah, was scheduled to take part in the election, but later withdrew at the last minute, citing personal reasons.

The NDC executives of the Ningo-Prampram constituency had prior to his withdrawal expressed their disappointment with the former MP’s decision, saying it would send wrong signals to the grassroots members of the party, since they would think that he has defected to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

A total of 113 candidates between the ages of 23 and 84, contested in the election, which took place in all regional capitals across the country.

The elected regional representatives are:

Eunice Jacqueline Buah, Western Region

Kwadwo Agyenim Boateng, Brong Ahafo Region

Yakubu S. Nantogmah, Northern Region

Agona Akrofosohene Nana Owusu Achiaw, Ashanti Region

Richard Babini Kanton IV, Upper West Region

Dr. Nii Kotei Dzani, Greater Accra Region

Robert D. Mosore, Upper East Region

Obrempong Appiah Nuamah II, Central Region

Francis Albert Seth Nyonyo, Volta Region

Nana Somuah Mireku- Nyampong, Eastern Region

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Kotei Dzani denies vote-buying in Council of state election appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking to the media after vetting Minister Nominee for Gender and Social Protection, Otiko Afisa Djaba, Mr. Ablakwa said: “I can tell you on authority that there were some NPP MPs who helped us blow the alarm, and gave us the hint about where the money is coming from.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”3waXJWW762Cp1TKYJnCByNRTZFCfU4dJ”]He however refused to mention the specific names of the NPP MPs involved.

The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga on Friday accused the Energy Minister nominee, Boakye Agyarko, of bribing the ten Minority Members of the Appointment Committee with GHC 3,000 each to influence them to approve his nomination.

Although the Chairman of the Appointment Committee, Joe Osei Owusu, and the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mohammed,  have denied the claims, Mr. Ayariga insists his allegation was not fabricated.

Mr. Ablakwa shot down claims that Members of the Appointment Committee have been receiving bribe from the nominees, saying “ I am not aware that we have ever received anything from a nominee. I will never accept anything from a nominee because it could be a trap. This will be the first time this is happening. Allowances are given to us by Parliament as an institution but we don’t charge anybody.”

“I can assure you that I have never received a dime from anybody. This is my fifth term, and I can say that since I started I have not received anything from a nominee. It doesn’t mean that we have been collecting monies from nominees.”

We’ll support investigations into bribery allegation – Haruna Iddrisu 

Meanwhile, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, has declared his support for a full scale investigation into the bribery scandal.

According to him, the Speaker of Parliament and the leadership of the house must investigate the matter to establish its veracity.

He made the comments at the sitting of the committee today [Monday].

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post NPP MPs helped blow alarm on ‘bribery’ – Okudzeto appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In a statement signed by acting Public Affairs Director of Parliament, Kate Addo, on Friday January 27, Parliament said “We have noted with concern, allegations that the leadership and members of the Appointment Committee, have been bribed by some of the President’s nominees to facilitate the recommendation of approval of their nomination as Ministers to the House.”

“Parliament would like to state categorically and without any equivocation that these allegations are frivolous and vexatious and should be disregarded.”

The statement further said “Parliament attaches a lot of importance to its constitutional duties and abhors practices that will not only affect its work but also bring the institution into disrepute. Therefore extreme care is not taken and thorough background checks are made before chairpersons to the various committees are appointed. This is to ensure that the works they oversee are meticulously carried.”

The House concluded that, “Parliament will therefore like to state that, no such event has taken place and anybody having any information to the contrary, must resort to the laws of the land and take the appropriate action for redress.”

Bribery allegations against Agyarko fabricated – Osei Owusu

Already, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, and Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joe Osei Owusu, has said the allegations brought against Mr. Boakye Agyarko were fabricated.

Mr. Mahama Ayariga, a member of the Appointments Committee, accused Mr. Agyarko of attempting to bribe Minority MPs, ostensibly to have his nomination approved.

Rumours were rife in Parliament that some Minority MPs had allegedly been offered GHc 3,000 each by Mr. Agyarko, to facilitate his approval, a claim Mr. Ayariga further stressed on Accra-based Radio Gold.

But Mr. Osei Owusu, also the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, said a confession had been made to the effect that the allegation was made by some Minority members to settle scores, following prior claims by the Majority side that former President John Mahama was corrupt.

The source of the confession was however not disclosed. In the supposed confession, Mr. Osei-Owusu said “… the news going round that I have received money from members of the committee was actually created to play on a level ground; the Majority had called the President [Mahama] corrupt so the corruption must be shared amongst all sides.”

Mr. Osei Owusu also assured that, tempers had been calmed and that Parliament would further investigate the matter.

“That confession has come and calmed tempers to some extent, because some of us were boiling up knowing the source and where it has come from, we will find a way to deal with it such that the entire members of the committee will continue to have the confidence of the Ghanaian populace,” the First Deputy Speaker said on the floor of Parliament.

My allegations still stand – Ayariga

Despite the reports of the confession which some news reports have associated with Mr. Ayariga, the Bawku Central MP has said he has not withdrawn his allegations of corruption against Mr. Agyarko.

In a statement, Mr. Ayariga said: “Let me state categorically that I have not withdrawn any allegation against the nominee.

The basis for such a withdrawal and apology does not exist because the Minority Members actually received some sums of money from the leadership which came from the nominee.”

“I wish to also add that I was not making up any facts to equalise for the bribery allegation against President John Mahama. My colleagues and I actually returned the money to be given back to Mr. Agyarko, who we were told gave the money.”
–
By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Parliament rubbishes Ayariga’s bribery claims, but he insists it occurred appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

A member of the Minority in Parliament and Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga, accused Mr. Agyarko of attempting to bribe Minority MPs, ostensibly to have his nomination as the Minister of Energy approved.

Rumours were rife in Parliament that some Minority MPs had allegedly been offered GHc 3,000 each by Mr. Agyarko, to facilitate his approval, a claim Mr. Ayariga further stressed on Accra-based Radio Gold.

But Mr. Osei Owusu, also the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, said a confession had been made to the effect that the allegation was made by some Minority members to settle scores, following prior claims by the Majority side that former President John Mahama was corrupt.

The source of the confession was however not disclosed.

In the supposed confession, Mr. Osei-Owusu said “… the news going round that I have received money from members of the committee was actually created to play on a level ground; the Majority had called the President [Mahama] corrupt so the corruption must be shared amongst all sides.”

Mr. Osei Owusu also assured that, tempers had been calmed and that Parliament would further investigate the matter.

“That confession has come and calmed tempers to some extent, because some of us were boiling up knowing the source and where it has come from, we will find a way to deal with it such that the entire members of the committee will continue to have the confidence of the Ghanaian populace,” the First Deputy Speaker said on the floor of Parliament.

My allegations still stand –  Ayariga

Despite the reports of the confession which some news reports have associated with Mr. Ayariga, the Bawku Central MP has said he has not withdrawn his allegations of corruption against Mr. Agyarko.

In a statement, Mr. Ayariga said: “Let me state categorically that I have not withdrawn any allegation against the nominee. The basis for such a withdrawal and apology does not exist because the Minority Members actually received some sums of money from the leadership which came from the nominee.”

“I wish to also add that I was not making up any facts to equalise for the bribery allegation against President John Mahama. My colleagues and I actually returned the money to be given back to Mr. Agyarko, who we are were told gave the money.”

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Bribery allegations against Agyarko fabricated – Osei Owusu appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He broke his silence on the contentious issue at his private Fuo residence in Tamale, where he received Hassan Ayariga’s All Peoples Congress’ (APC) Northern Regional executives, and party members who have declared their unflinching support for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo.

[contextly_sidebar id=”U1zPWZZyBq6mIiAVuxCwR3c0bhub3vXX”]He stated that, “I don’t need bribe. If I need bribe; I would have pocketed the money they gave me and the cars and the promise of other money which is supposed to come, I would have done it.”

He claimed that he was already wealthy when President Mahama was a student.

“When I started buying cars; Mahama was a student at Ghana College (Ghanasco). He himself told me that I was having some cars and other things, and today you are presenting five hundred thousand to me and a car. As for me I don’t need anybody to give me money.”

“If John Mahama wanted to give me money; he would have given me money when he became the vice President. Is today that he knows that I need money? Today that you are failing; you are calling me to come, I won’t come,” Bugri Naabu charged.

Daniel Bugri Naabu chastised the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) 2016 Campaign Coordinator, Kofi Adams, for calling him (Bugri Naabu) a liar.

He renewed his confidence in Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo’s capacity to salvage the nation.

“I know that Nana Addo is the only one who can build Ghana peacefully and for that matter I will never ever collect bribe to damage him.”

Spokesperson of the NPP Presidential nominee, Mustapha Hamid, on Tuesday at a news conference in Accra, accused President Mahama and his brother Ibrahim Mahama of attempting to bribe the party’s Northern Regional Chairman, Daniel Bugri Naabu to campaign against Nana Akufo Addo.

Whereas the NDC’s National Campaign Coordinator, Kofi Adams, has rubbished the allegation, some concerned political analysts have challenged Daniel Bugri Naabu to substantiate the allegation.

APC Northern Regional Executives endorse Nana Addo
 
Meanwhile, the APC Northern Regional Treasurer, Ibrahim Mashoud, on behalf of the regional executives; disassociated themselves from the APC leader, Hassan Ayariga’s endorsement of President John Dramani Mahama for the December 7 polls.

“We in the Northern Region were not consulted by anybody especially Ayariga; when he decided to throw his weight behind a certain party in Ghana. We were not consulted in the Northern Region and so we disassociate ourselves completely from throwing his weight behind the NDC.”

“We in the APC and for that matter the regional, constituency and Parliamentary candidates of the Northern Region; wish to state here and now to the good people of Ghana that, we sincerely endorse the candidature of Nana Akufo, the NPP Flagbearer for 2016.”

Ibrahim Mashoud explained their decision, saying, “The endorsement came after series of meetings considering the corruption, mismanagement, wastage of the economy, high rate of unemployment, highest rate of incompetence, killer taxes, collapse of the private sector, high utility bills, tribal politics just to mention a few.”

He exposed Hassan Ayariga’s ignorance on the composition of the APC Northern Regional chapter.

“Hassan Ayariga does not know all his regional executives not to talk of constituency members who were behind him, he does not know anybody.”

“We went round to form the constituency executives. He has never been to Tamale to see any constituency executives not to talk of the regional. So I want to say emphatically that Hassan Ayariga does not know anybody in the Northern Region so far as the APC is concerned.”

He insisted that, Nana Akufo remained their obvious choice for the December 7 Presidential poll.

“Our support and votes are for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo of the NPP, and we are declaring that all our members should vote for him on December 7. Our support for Nana Akufo Addo is solid and unshakable.”
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah.citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post When I was buying cars; Mahama was a student – Bugri Naabu fires back appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.