Muntaka paid me my share of the ‘bribe’ – Okudzeto Ablakwa

The brouhaha about the bribery scandal has been in the news over the week – and some minority members are at each other’s neck with claims which are yet to be justified.

Former Deputy Education Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said that minority chief whip, Muhammad Muntaka ‘lied’ over his claims that the minority members of the house were not paid any amount of money for them to approve the President’s nominee for Energy.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa maintained on NEAT FM’s morning show Ghana Montie that, he indeed was paid a sum of GHC3,000 by the Asawase MP and hence was shocked when Muntaka said on Saturday that money did not exchange hands before Boakye Agyarko was approved by the house.

“Truly, we were given money…I was shocked when Muntaka denied the bribery allegation, someone called to inform me; but I was shocked until later in the day when I heard the tape…I must say I wasn’t surprised, I was shocked…,” he said.

Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga alleged on Accra-based Radio Gold on Friday that the Energy Minister designate, Boakye Agyarkko who was hailed by Ghanaians for outstanding performance before Parliament’s Appointment Committee sneaked an amount of GHC100, 000 to the house to be distributed to members on both sides of the committee.

According to him, each of the members from the minority side of Parliament’s appointment committee was given an amount of GH?3,000.

He said he took the money because they had discussed issues about their sitting allowances with the minority chief whip, Muntaka Mubarak and he promised to find out from the Chairman of the Committee, Joe Osei-Owusu as to when the allowances will be paid.

Muntaka Mubarak, he said, later gave the amount to them saying the money was coming from the Chairman of the committee only for them to hear it was coming from Boakye Agyarko.

This allegation has been denied by the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joe Osei-Owusu and Muhammad Muntaka with the former swearing by the Quoran that he never paid any money to Mahama Ayariga and the Minority members of the committee.

But Okudzeto said, he was surprised especially when Muntaka who gave the money to him and also chaired a meeting of the minority caucus, denied the claims.