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Tag: bribery

  • GHC15k bribery allegations for Aburi Girls SHS admission false – Education Ministry

    GHC15k bribery allegations for Aburi Girls SHS admission false – Education Ministry

    Media Relations Officer for the Ministry of Education, Hashmin Mohammed, has debunked recent claims that authorities at Aburi Girls’ Senior High School collect over GHC15,000 from parents and guardians to admit students.

    He made this known while speaking to the media on Saturday, September 27. Hashmin Mohammed noted that investigations conducted by the ministry and the national security agencies found no evidence to support the allegation.

    He added, “I think prior to the placement itself, we ran a media campaign to educate the public that the BECE placement is free of charge. You need not pay any money to any person, whether a Ministry of Education official or a third party, and so far, issues that have emerged with regard to bribery, we have investigated all of them, and we have realised that there is no evidence.

    One Gertrude Adzo Borklo has claimed that the Computerised School Placement System, the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), is being manipulated by certain school authorities.

    However, in a statement issued on Thursday, September 25, and Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, the Ministry described the claims as false and said they are based on a “conspiratorial narrative”.

    Additionally, the Ministry has noted that all efforts to reach out to the claimant have been futile, noting that Gertrude Adzo Borklo’s accounts appear to have been inactive for some time. Nonetheless, the Education Ministry is working with National Security, the Cyber Security Authority, and other agencies to track down and contact the individual.
    Other anonymous accounts, according to the Ministry, continue to circulate misleading claims about the school placement system. The statement emphasised that the placement process is entirely free of charge; therefore, it called on victims to complain to the Ministry through its numbers 054 154 8223 (Calls) and 024 490 8957 (WhatsApp).
    “At no point is payment required to access this service. We call on members of the public to provide any information or evidence of persons, whether Ministry officials or third parties, who demand money for placements. The Ministry assures swift and decisive action against any individual found culpable,” the statement read.
    The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of Ghana’s school placement system. There have been recent speculations that the Education Ministry solely depends on a rigid score system to place students in Senior High Schools. But the Ministry has described the claims as misleading and inaccurate.
    In August, the Deputy Education Minister, Dr Clement Apaak, emphasized that multiple factors influence how students are assigned to specific Senior High Schools (SHSs).
    According to an official statement signed and issued by the Deputy Education Minister on Saturday August 30, the Ministry noted that the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) used in designating SHS graduates to various schools considers the aggregate and raw scores of students, the availability of vacancies in schools, and the popularity of specific programmes.
    The statement added that the Ministry does not demand or accept rewards from parents or guardians to guarantee that students are placed in schools of their choice, as speculated.
    “The Ministry confirms that this information is not only false but also maliciously misleading. The placement is based on a combination of factors, including aggregate and raw scores, availability of vacancies in the various schools and programmes of study. Limited vacancies and high competition can affect placement. The Ministry unequivocally states that no form of payment or inducement is required or solicited from parents, guardians, or their representatives for the purpose of securing placement.
    “All interactions with the Ministry and Ghana Education Service (GES) officials are expected to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and transparency. The public is advised to be cautious and report any cases of extortion or bribery attempts related to student placements. Stakeholders are encouraged to report miscreants to the nearest police station,” parts of the statement read.
    The Ministry’s clarification is a rebuttal to recent claims that the Ministry solely depends on a rigid score system to place students in Senior High Schools. Meanwhile, the Ministry has described the claims as misleading and inaccurate.
    Parents and prospective Senior High School students have lodged complaints over misplaced placements to difficulties in accessing schools of choice.
    Others have also raised concerns about being assigned to schools far from their preferred locations despite meeting the required grades. On September 19, the Deputy Education Minister, Dr. Clement Apaak, called for calm following reports of technical glitches in the placement process.
    During a visit to the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Hall in Accra on Friday, September 19, the minister stated that the issue is being resolved and assured parents and students that all Senior High School placements would be finalized soon.
    He explained that the current challenge was anticipated and that measures have been put in place to address it promptly. “It’s a process. It has not ended. Be patient and be reassured that we anticipated a number of challenges, and that is why we decided to set a reporting date that gives you enough time and gives us enough time to address all the issues.
    “So be assured that by the time our wards are expected to report, which is around this same time next month, October 18, many of these issues, if not all, will be resolved,” he added.
    On Wednesday, September 17, the Ghana Education Service (GES) opened the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) portal to allow prospective Senior High School (SHS) students to access their designated schools.
    As per a circular dated Wednesday, September 17, signed by the acting Deputy Director-General for Quality and Access at the GES, Dr Munawaru Isshaque and addressed to all regional directors, freshers will report to their designated schools from October 18.
    The statement warned school authorities against enrolling students against the placement list generated by the CSSPS Secretariat, stressing the need for transparency and impartiality during the registration process.
    “Admission of students should strictly follow the placement list generated by the CSSPS Secretariat. No school is permitted to admit students outside the official placement without prior written approval from GES,” parts of the circular read.
    483,800 have been placed into various Senior High Schools across the country out of the 590,000 candidates. On Monday, September 1, the school placement portal was opened for new entrant students to verify their school choices, biodata, and other relevant information ahead of the final placement.
    The deadline for the fact-checking exercise was brought to a close on Monday, September 8. Of this figure,248,038 are females (51.4%), and 234,783 are males (48.6%).
    However, 107,509 candidates (18.2%) could not be matched with their initial school choices due to high demand for certain Category A schools.

  • Barker-Vormawor will apologise for misunderstanding from bribery allegation post – Lawyer

    Barker-Vormawor will apologise for misunderstanding from bribery allegation post – Lawyer

    Oliver Barker-Vormawor’s legal representative, Nana Ato Dadzie, has clarified that his client’s controversial social media post about ministerial appointees allegedly paying money for approval by the Appointments Committee has been misinterpreted.

    Appearing before the Committee, Nana Ato Dadzie explained that the post was not intended to accuse the Committee members of wrongdoing but rather to highlight misconduct by external actors that could be undermining the integrity of the vetting process.

    While acknowledging that Barker-Vormawor authored the post, the lawyer insisted that it was not meant to target or malign the Appointments Committee.

    Nonetheless, he announced his intention to offer an apology on behalf of his client and affirmed Barker-Vormawor’s willingness to retract the statement to clear any misconceptions.

    “This statement here and the way it has been put out as though he intended to vilify this honourable committee is suddenly far away from what he intended the post to be and that it is only intended to expose some misconduct by other third parties affecting the work of the Committee,” Nana Ato Dadzie stated.

    He further emphasized that Barker-Vormawor had no intention of engaging in a dispute with the Committee and was ready to apologize for the misunderstanding.

    “We are not here to contend this particular issue… as a supporter of democracy he is ready, willing, and prepared to apologise for this misunderstanding and also to withdraw the post,” he added.

    According to his legal team, the statement was made in good faith and aligns with the principles of the Whistleblower’s Act, which encourages citizens to expose corrupt practices.

    “Under the general rubric of citizenship, he is at liberty to put it out and advocate that that practice should stop,” Nana Ato Dadzie noted.

    Barker-Vormawor’s post had sparked controversy, leading to his summons before the Committee, where he was given the opportunity to clarify his intentions.

  • Court issues 2-year suspended death sentence to former Bank of China Chair for bribery, others

    Court issues 2-year suspended death sentence to former Bank of China Chair for bribery, others

    Former Bank of China chairman Liu Liange on Tuesday received a suspended death sentence for bribery and illegal loan issuance, state media reported, according to Reuters.

    He was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve by a court in China’s Shandong province. The sentence, per reports, will be executed if he commits further crimes during the period. He would have a life sentence if reprieved.

    China’s anti-graft watchdog has intensified its crackdown on the financial sector, targeting high-profile figures such as Liu Liange, former chairman of the Bank of China, and Fan Yifei, a former deputy central bank governor sentenced to death in October for accepting bribes, with a two-year reprieve.

    According to state broadcaster CCTV, Liu was found guilty of abusing his position to secure promotions for others and accepting bribes totaling more than 121 million yuan ($17 million). While the court acknowledged Liu’s confession and the recovery of most of the illicit funds, it opted to delay the enforcement of the death penalty.

    During his tenure at China Export-Import Bank and the Bank of China, Liu unlawfully approved loans exceeding 3.32 billion yuan, resulting in losses of over 190 million yuan, CCTV reported.

    Liu, born in 1961, had a decades-long career in banking and finance, holding roles at the People’s Bank of China and the Export-Import Bank of China before being promoted to chairman of the Bank of China in 2019.

    In October 2023, the Chinese Communist Party expelled Liu, accusing him of illegal activities and corruption.

  • $2.5m bribery allegations could have a dent on Haruna Iddrisu’s political career – Manasseh Azure

    $2.5m bribery allegations could have a dent on Haruna Iddrisu’s political career – Manasseh Azure

    Investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has weighed in on the bribery allegations against the Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu.

    He proposed that rather than Mr Iddrisu attempting to clear his name independently, it would be prudent for a Ghanaian investigative body to examine the case and ascertain his innocence.

    Manasseh expressed keen interest in how Ghana’s anti-corruption agencies would handle the situation, highlighting its potential impact on the country’s global political reputation.

    He emphasized that the accusations could adversely affect Iddrisu’s political standing and future prospects.

    “The MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has denied damning bribery allegations against him by a South African newspaper. I’m wondering if the anti-corruption institutions in Ghana would investigate the matter. It would be in Haruna Iddrisu’s interest if the allegations were investigated and his innocence established as he argues.

    “As it stands, it doesn’t look good for his image and political future. It also doesn’t look good for our anti-corruption agencies, the weakest of which has more power and more resources than the most powerful and resourceful investigative journalist in this country,” he wrote on his X page.

    Manasseh’s remarks were prompted by an investigative report from News24, which implicated Iddrisu in alleged bribery activities, claiming he received over US$2.5 million (47 million rands).

    The report focused on the activities of Rushil and Nishani Singh, who operated the Ghana Infrastructure Company (GIC) from 2017 to 2022, identifying the MP as a purported ‘broker’ for the company.

    In response, Mr Iddrisu vehemently denied any involvement in brokering deals for GIC or receiving payments from the Singh siblings.

    He refuted the allegations, stating that they not only aimed to tarnish his reputation but also undermined the trust and integrity of his position as the MP for Tamale South.

    “To be clear, and for the avoidance of doubt, I have never at any point in time, received personally, directed to be paid to, benefited from, or been aware of, any unlawful, illegal or immoral payments made by either GIC or the Singhs. Also, I have never brokered any deals to benefit GIC and/or the Singhs.

    “… I vehemently deny these allegations and categorically refute any implication of wrongdoing. This unfounded allegation not only seeks to tarnish my reputation but also undermines the trust and integrity of my office as the Member of Parliament for the people of Tamale South.”

  • You are unprofessional – Buaben Asamoa tells journalist for accusing NPP of bribery

    You are unprofessional – Buaben Asamoa tells journalist for accusing NPP of bribery

    A heated exchange erupted between a member of Alan Kyerematen’s Movement for Change (M4C), Yaw Buaben Asamoa, and Citi TV journalist Umaru Sanda Amadu regarding allegations of bribery within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the April 23 broadcast of Citi FM’s Eye Witness News.

    The clash ensued following allegations made by Alfred Ababio Kumi, an NPP member who recently claimed to have led 6,000 individuals to defect from Alan’s movement to the NPP.

    Buaben Asamoa fired back, accusing Kumi of being paid to smear the movement’s reputation.

    “I know for a fact that he has been enticed by money…it is an ongoing process by NPP apparatchiks to try and bribe younger people from the movement.”

    “I am not interested in how much.” Umaru pressed further, seeking concrete evidence of the bribery claims.

    When pressed by the journalist to disclose the amount of money involved, Buaben Asamoa declined, stating, “I am not interested in how much.” Despite further probing for evidence of the bribery allegations, Buaben Asamoa remained evasive.

    Challenging the integrity of the M4C, Amadu questioned the strength of its convictions if members could be swayed by financial incentives.

    Buaben Asamoa defended the movement, urging the journalist not to make generalizations based on individual actions.

    Tensions heightened when Amadu inquired whether Buaben Asamoa himself had been approached with bribes, to which Buaben Asamoa retorted, “I am not interested in that question because I am not interested in following this process the way you want to.”

    Read an excerpt of their conversation below:

    Buaben: I know for a fact that he has been enticed by money and that it is not a process that is one-off; it is an ongoing process by NPP apparatchiks to try and bribe younger people from the movement because they know that the movement is focused on bringing relief to younger people because the movement is ongoing and it is viable and very powerful.

    And so young people who are part of the movement are being targeted with cash, with money. It is a process that is deliberately ongoing. Mr Kumi has been paid money

    Umaru: Do you know how much?

    Buaben: I am not interested in how much.

    Umaru: No, if a lawyer of your calibre can make a claim that someone has been paid money and not state how much money, then that is you peddling falsehood and that cannot stand in any jurisdiction.

    Buaben: I accept; you are interviewing me, if you think it is a falsehood, you have your opinion

    Umaru: You told us that the movement was built on conviction, which is why people like yourself joined, if people who joined the movement because they were convinced by what Alan was preaching could be bought back by money, then it means your movement, the conviction is not convincing.

    Buaben: You see, you want to keep me attacking your personality; have I been bought? If one person has been bought, why do you want to extend it to the entire movement, it is not professional.

    Question the man who has been bought; don’t question the entire movement. Question the man’s conviction; don’t question the entire movement. Don’t conclude about an entire movement based on one man’s slippage because that person has slipped… I am sitting here. Have I slipped, and have I been paid?

    Umaru: Have you been approached?

    Buaben: Umaru Sanda, I am not interested in that question because I am not interested in following this process the way you want to; the way you are going is totally unprofessional; you are believing something that is a figment of somebody; you are seeking to make a mountain out of something that does not exist.

  • Bribery and corruption will worsen if NSS is made optional – Apaak

    Bribery and corruption will worsen if NSS is made optional – Apaak

    Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, Dr. Clement Apaak, has expressed strong opposition to the proposal made by the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to make the one-year mandatory National Service optional.

    According to Dr. Apaak, such a move would only serve to create opportunities for bribery and corruption to thrive.

    In addition to concerns about corruption, Dr. Apaak also highlighted that making National Service optional would not foster a sense of patriotism among Ghanaian students upon completion of their tertiary education.

    Dr. Bawumia had announced his vision for the country during an event in Accra on Wednesday, where he outlined plans to make National Service optional if elected president in the upcoming general elections.

    “I believe it is time to rethink the concept of our current national service scheme. My government will propose that those who, after completion of their education, can secure jobs, would be exempted from national service. National service will no longer be mandatory, and students will have the option to decide whether to do national service. This will also encourage companies to go to campuses for recruitment annually,” Dr. Bawumia said.

    However, Dr. Apaak remains unconvinced about the potential benefits of this proposed policy change.

    But speaking to Citi News, Dr. Clement Apaak said the implementation of such a proposal will only create a favourable exemption opportunity for the children of the political elite.

    “What it will essentially do is introduce optional service in place of National Service, and once it becomes optional, it also creates the avenue for bribery and corruption. We all know the value of doing National Service, and we know that the National Service certificate plays a very important role, especially for those of us who will want to go into public service.”

    “Time without number, you may have heard persons who have been nominated for ministerial positions being asked by the Appointments Committee where they did their National Service and whether they have certificates and so by saying that we are going to make it optional, you are totally destroying what we know and replacing it with a system that will only exempt the sons and daughters of the political elite.”

  • US senator promises to be exonerated in bribery case

    US senator promises to be exonerated in bribery case

    A strong-willed Senator from New Jersey named Robert Menendez is continuing to say that he is not guilty of the federal corruption charges that were announced last week.

    He said on Monday that once all the evidence is shown, not only will he be proven innocent, but he will still remain as the senior senator of New Jersey.

    Prosecutors say that Mr. Menendez and his wife received a lot of money in return for helping Egypt.

    The senator has not agreed with requests from other Democrats to step down from their position.

    Instead, during his first public appearance since he was charged with a crime, Mr. Menendez announced that he plans to campaign for another term in office.

    And the senator, who is facing a lot of criticism, seemed to criticize his colleagues who have publicly told him to step down. He said that public opinion is not as important as the legal system.

    “He said that those who quickly made a decision without enough information were influenced by the prosecution’s presentation of sensationalized facts. He made this statement while speaking in Union City, New Jersey, where he gained popularity in politics. ”

    “He said that the accusations against me are simply claims. ”

    Last week, federal prosecutors in Manhattan revealed a 39-page document that accused Mr Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, of receiving large sums of money as bribes. In return, the senator used his power to influence politics both within the country and internationally.

    Investigators discovered $550,000 in cash and 13 bars of gold bullion in June 2022 while searching a safe deposit box and the home of a couple in New Jersey.

    According to the charges, Mr. Menendez looked up ‘how much is one kilo of gold worth’ on the internet in January 2022.

    Investigators discovered a fancy Mercedes-Benz that was bought by one of the businessmen, parked in the garage.

    The court document said that once the couple got the car, Mrs Menendez sent a message to her husband saying: “Congratulations my love, we are now the happy owners of a 2019 Mercedes. ”

  • Oti Region tops regions with highest direct bribery request by public officials

    Oti Region tops regions with highest direct bribery request by public officials

    Oti Region has emerged as the region with the highest direct bribery request cases involving public officials in the country. 

    According to data from the United Nations, the region recorded 98% of such cases. 

    The Western North region on the other hand recorded the lowest cases, amounting to 24.8%. 

    Although the report said there is a substantial regional variation in the modality of how bribery is initiated, it also noted that when focused on direct requests by public officials in each of the 16 regions of Ghana, the data show that the share varies from as little as 24.8 per cent to as much as 91.8 percent. 

    “In other words, 9 out of 10 bribes in Oti are directly requested by a public official, while that is the case of just 2 out of 10 bribes in the Western North region. Such a large share of bribes being directly requested by public officials may suggest that acts of bribery do not come to the attention of the relevant authorities or that when they do, they are not investigated or there is no follow-up,” the report added.

    According to the survey, about two thirds of bribes are paid before a service is rendered. 

    “Such a large share of bribes being paid in advance of a service is an indication that the payment of bribes to public officials is often expected in Ghana. It also further underlines the bargaining power of public officials, whose position of relative power enables them to solicit a payment in exchange for the promise of providing a public service that should have been rendered upon request and, on occasion, even free of charge,” the report added.

  • Corruption: China’s ex-justice minister Fu Zhenghua jailed

    The former justice minister of ChinaFu Zhenghua, who led multiple anti-corruption campaigns, has been imprisoned for bribery.

    In July, Fu pleaded guilty to collecting 117 million yuan ($14.7 million; $16.5 million) in gifts and cash.

    Chinese media reported he’d received a suspended death sentence to be commuted to a life sentence in two years.

    His conviction comes amid a sudden crackdown on officials ahead of a key Communist Party congress next month.

    China’s ruling party holds the event once every five years and this time President Xi Jinping is expected to be given a historic third term and consolidate his hold on power.

    Fu’s jailing follows the sentencing of three former police chiefs this week. All four men are not only accused of corruption but also of being disloyal to Mr Xi.

    They are all alleged to have been part of a corrupt political circle led by another ex-security figurehead, Sun Lijun, who is currently awaiting his sentence.

    Fu was China’s justice minister from 2018 to 2020, after a career where he worked his way up from being a policeman to the deputy head of China’s Ministry of Public Security.

    He led several high-profile investigations into corrupt politicians – including a probe that brought down Zhou Yongkang, one of the most powerful officials in recent years to be convicted of bribery.

    In October last year, the party’s internal watchdog announced it was investigating Fu for “serious violations of discipline and national laws”.

    He was dismissed from public office and then in March this year expelled from the Community Party. He was arrested a month later on corruption charges.

    Prosecutors said he took advantage of his authority to seek gains for others and himself on business contracts, official positions, and even legal cases.

  • Teachers and lecturers in private schools take bribes the most UNODC Report

    Teachers and lecturers in private schools in Ghana have been identified as the highest recipients of bribes in Ghana.

    This is based on a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

    According to the report, teachers and lecturers in the private sector scored 9.6% in the bribery analysis by the UNODC.

    The next on the list were doctors, nurses and midwives in private hospitals, who were pegged at 7.6%.

    Security guards in the private sector followed next with a bribery rating of 7.3%; while employees from insurance companies followed in 4th place with 4.1.

    Teachers and lecturers in private schools take bribes the most - UNODC Report

    In 5th place was other business employees who were rated at 3.7%; with bank employees at the base of the ratings with 3.6%.

    In the public sector, the Ghana Police Services was ranked first amongst ten other top recipients of bribe.

    Teachers and lecturers in private schools take bribes the most - UNODC Report

     

     

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • Policeman jailed 10 years for reportedly extorting GH₵2,000 from civilians

    A Cape Coast High Court on Wednesday sentenced a Police Officer to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour after he was caught on camera demanding an amount of GH₵2,000,00 from some civilians.

    The officer who was stationed at Assin Fosu was caught on camera shamelessly demanding the amount in 2019.

    General Sergeant Augustine Owusu Ansah, No. 45533, stationed at Assin Fosu was seen in the video that went viral, taking the amount from the civilians, one of whom he had arrested for allegedly dealing in narcotics and fraudulent activities.

    Police investigations during the trial revealed that the convict cooked up stories against the civilians just to extort sums of money from them.

    G/Sgt Ansah pleaded not guilty to the charge of extortion but was found guilty after the trial and was convicted by the court presided over by Mrs Malike Woanya-Dey.

    Pleading for compassion, leniency and mercy, Mr Daniel Arthur, Counsel of the convict, said his client was very cooperative during the trial and that as a first time offender he has also shown remorse.

    However, the presiding Judge, said the convict was in a position of trust and should have protected the people but rather chose to take undue advantage of innocent civilians who had to painfully pay the amount.

    She added that the convict had dented the professional image of the Police Service.

    Prosecuting, Mrs Clara Mensah-Agboh, an Assistant State Attorney mentioned Ibrahim Issaka, Richard Sam, Nana Yaw Ankobeah, Abdul Wahab Yusif and Clement Hiagbe alias Element as the complainants who are all friends staying at different places in Fosu.

    She said on Monday, April 29, 2019, the convict went to Issaka’s room in the company of his girlfriend and arrested him for allegedly possessing Indian hemp in his room.

    The prosecution said Mr Issaka was immediately whisked to Anyinabrim Police station, where he called his friend, Richard Sam to bail him, but on his arrival, the convict demanded GH₵2,000.00 to be paid before Issaka could be released.

    She said the convict later that day met Sam and Nana Yaw Ankobeah at Pumpside, a suburb of the Fosu Municipality and reiterated that, they pay the said amount or Issaka would be sent to prison that day.

    Prosecution said Sam and Issaka met at a Total two filling station at Fosu and gave the convict GH₵2,000.00 and accordingly got Issaka released.

    She said however that a week after the incident, a video recording of the convict taking some money from the friends of Issaka was circulated on social media leading to his arrest.

    Source: GNA

  • Bribery allegations against judiciary a matter of great concern Atuguba

    Justice William Atuguba, a retired justice of the Supreme Court has described the Muntaka allegations against the judiciary as a matter of great concern.

    Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka (NDC- Asawase MP), the NDC’s chief whip in Parliament has alleged that a supreme court judge telephoned a female NDC MP-elect and urged her to vote for Prof Mike Oquaye to become Speaker in exchange for payment of her children’s school fees and fuel for her car.

    Both NPP and NDC have 137 MPs, hence the election of Speaker was a grave matter to the NPP.

    “It is obviously a matter of great concern because the Judiciary is a sacred institution,” Justice Atuguba said. “I used to make this remark when I was on the bench that if on this earth you cannot get justice from the court of law, what is the alternative?”

    “God applies his justice through human instruments; from the day of Moses to Samuel and others. Therefore, in every undertaking, we [the Judiciary] should remain focused on trying to serve the country, genuinely to the best of our ability,” Justice Atuguba added when he spoke to Joy News in a report monitored by GhanaWeb.

    The election of the Speaker for the 8th Parliament took place on January 7, 2021.

    “Shamefully, a Supreme Court judge called a lady colleague telling her what they will give her if she votes for Prof Mike Oquaye. He told her that they will help her take care of her children, she can take fuel from a filling station for free for the next four years,” Muntaka alleged.

    “So, we [NDC] are going to look into it. We will look at the time he made those calls,” he stated.

    The Chief Justice has since asked for the assistance of the Asawase MP in investigating the issue.

    The former MP for Nadowli Kaleo, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was elected Speaker of the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic after a long chaotic process that lasted over nine hours.

    Keenly contested by Prof Mike Oquaye, the immediate past Speaker, Bagbin, the oldest serving MP, that is, 1993-2021, polled 138 votes against Oquaye’s 136. One person failed to vote.

    Alban Bagbin made history by being the first Speaker of Parliament who was not nominated by the incumbent party. But Carlos Ahenkora (NPP- Tema West) messed up the party by snatching some ballot papers and chewed two such that even the votes obtained are contested by the incumbent party.

    That ballot snatching incident and the Muntaka allegations have both, to date, not been investigated.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com