Ghartey report opened Parliament to public ridicule – Former NDC MP

The report of the five-member ad hoc committee set up by Parliament to find out bribery allegations against leadership of the Appointments Committee has rather opened the legislative arm of government to public ridicule, a former Member of Parliament has asserted.

The former MP for Ablekuma Central, Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, has therefore advised leadership of the House to work on repairing the public image of that arm of government.

The report delivered by committee chair Joe Ghartey implicated Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga, who was asked to render an apology.



Though he did, he raised questions about the processes that led to the conclusions of the ad hoc committee.

The Speaker of Parliament, Mike Oquaye, adjourned verdict on Mr Ayariga, who was implicated by the report.

But speaking on TV3’s New Day on Saturday, April 1, Mr Chaie, who represented the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the House between 2009 and 2017, said more harm has rather been done to Parliament by the report than good.

He said discerning Ghanaians appear not to have accepted the report and it behoves on the leadership to work on the image of the House. The Speaker is expected to give final verdict on Monday, when the House returns for business.

After the laying of the committee report on Thursday, the chamber was plunged into chaos as some members traded accusations. There were near-fisticuffs. These appear to have punctured further the sanctity of Parliament in the public eye.