AYARIGA IS EMBARKING ON A MISSION OF SELF-INCRIMINATION AND MONUMENTAL INDICTMENT

AYARIGA IS EMBARKING ON A MISSION OF SELF-INCRIMINATION AND MONUMENTAL INDICTMENT

Iddi Muhayu-Deen writes…

For the sake of analysis, let’s play the proverbial devil’s advocate, let’s assume without admitting that Ayariga is telling the truth, let’s assume that indeed an attempt was made to bribe them (ie. the Minority members on the Appointments Committee). Now, proceeding on these assumptions, let’s ask ourselves what it would mean, first of all, to the image of Hon. Ayariga himself, the image of all the members of the Minority side on the Appointments Committee and ultimately, the image of the august of Parliament.

To Ayariga and the Minority MPs on the Committee, this would mean that, he [Ayariga] is essentially confessing to the whole World that they are all corruptible and bribable, which regrettably, makes them dishonorable and unfit to be MPs. Why do I say so? If you listen to Ayariga, he says emphatically that, he and his Minority colleagues took the so called bribe money because they were of the mistaken belief that it was meant to be their sitting allowance. This, I say on authority, is a palpable falsity and Ayariga knows that. It cannot be true that they thought it was their sitting allowance.

They knew they were taking bribe money and perhaps, that explains why they never bothered to request for ‘allowance forms’ for the purpose of appending their signatures as proof of receipt as their own convention demands. That is why there were so many other procedural anathema and infractions in relation to their conduct under the circumstances. The whole thing stinks and it stinks big time.

These Minority MPs knew for sure, that per the standard practice, Parliament pays sitting allowances to committee members ONLY ON QUARTERLY BASIS after same has been consolidated over the period. So, they knew very well that they were not due for any allowance at the time. In the light of this, there cannot be any justification why they took the money even though they claim it was later returned. For accepting the bribe in the first place, you will be damn right if you say they are corrupt.

If you doubt what I’m saying, just place a call to your Member of Parliament and find out when MPs are paid their sitting allowances in respect of committee work. This is a no secret at all. That is why I wasn’t surprised when Hon. Inusah Fuseini, the NDC MP for Tamale Central took on his colleagues, the Minority MPs on the Committee who accepted the money claiming it was their sitting allowance. He made this critical observation when he granted an interview yesterday (January 30) on joy fm. So these MPs are only being disingenuous and I find that very problematic.

On the impact that this whole ‘arigate corruption story’ would have on the image of Parliament, I can’t even measure it. This is by far, the worst scandal to have hit the Parliament of Ghana. Like many others, I also do support a full scale investigation into the matter so that all the facts can be laid bare for the purpose of deterrence. But whatever the case may be, the image of Parliament would be greatly dented, perhaps, beyond repairs.

Regardless of the outcome of the investigations, our parliament would never be the same. Whether Ayariga is telling the truth or not, the people of Ghana and elsewhere would lose some confidence in the affairs of Parliament. I do not know which of the two possible outcomes is a better evil. That, a group of parliamentarians have ganged up to create a story that they accepted bribe (which in itself, is a criminal offence) and implicated their colleagues and leadership. OR, that, a Minister Designate paid bribe to MPs and members of the Appointments Committee in order to clear him to become a Minister of State.

Surely, it couldn’t have been worse. For me, it is a not not not and I feel very saddened as an ardent follower of parliamentary democracy in Africa and across the globe. I feel completely let down by my mentors and for that matter the people I admire so much. I mean, the very people I look up to have betrayed my trust and confidence. Certainly, the Parliament of Ghana would never be the same. I am deeply worried and I guess you should also be worried if you love your country. The thoughts of a citizen not a spectator.

IDDI MUHAYU-DEEN

#ForGodAndCountry

Assalamu alaikum

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