Alban Bagbin to MPs – Don’t behave like ostriches

• Posted on March 12, 2014March 12, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nadowli/Kaleo, Alban Bagbin has accused Members of Parliament and Ghanaians outraged by his recent comments on bribery of pretense.

According to him, his allegation was only admitting some of the challenges MPs face in their line of duty.

“We have all been bemoaning the problems that are confronting Parliament; all of us and we feel that there are things that we could do as a country to improve that we don’t turn these honest men and women of integrity into dishonourable members…” he added.

Mr. Bagbin has come under pressure from his colleagues for alleging there was evidence to show that some MPs take bribes to do the job of private individuals and organisations at a workshop in Koforidua over the weekend.

His admission has earned the praise from some with others saying he has confirmed a widely-held perception.

Parliament on Tuesday set up a special committee to investigate Mr. Bagbin’s allegations after his colleagues raised objections to his comments on the floor.

He was of the opinion the problem of bribery and corruption must be confronted “to find lasting solutions to them to be able to develop our country”  adding that no country can develop on “falsehood” and “you don’t run away from the problem; you confront them.”

Mr. Bagbin dared the engines of Parliament to declare they are above reproach “and let us all try to behave like ostriches and keep on going and you will see what is going to happen. And so what is wrong in coming out openly raising the issue for us as a country to look at it and see how we can deal with it?” he asked.

Meanwhile, former MP for Lower Manya, Michael Teye Nyaunu stated that although he knows of lobbyists within Parliament, it is not widespread.

According to him, when MPs are taken out of Accra by organizations and institutions for seminars and forums, the cost of their fuel and other matters are taken care of but that does not constitute bribery.

He also mentioned that the cause of concern for Mr. Bagbin could be emanating from the leadership in Parliament “that I don’t know of but for my 16 years in Parliament, I can come out that nobody has done that to me not as an individual or a member of a committee.”

By: Efua Idan Osam