Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka is in awe that a man he calls his best friend could concoct a bribery allegation of immense propensity against him.
He said he had never given any money to Bawku Central Member of Parliament (MP) Mahama Ayariga who made public a bribery allegation on January 27.
Giving his testimony before an independent investigation Committee Monday, the Asawase MP said, “I never received any money from anyone intended to be used to influence anybody.”
Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga had said members of Parliament’s Appointments Committee were each given GHC3,000.
He told Accra-based Radio Gold that they had taken the money, but after they realised the money was coming from Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs returned their share.
First Deputy Speaker Joe Osei Owusu and Mr Muntaka were implicated in the claim and after public uproar, a five-member committee was set up to investigate the matter.
Mr Agyarko and the two others have both denied the claim describing it as purely fabrication.
Mr Ayariga’s claim appears to have shuttered the world of Mr Muntaka who describes him as his best friend. It is said the two MPs are close to the point that Mr Ayariga was the best man at Mr Muntaka’s wedding.
Being the first witness to appear before the Committte with his lawyer – Samson Lardy, the Asawase MP said he was shocked and could not speak to his friend after the incident.
“I have never given Ayariga anything,” he said.
However, Mr Ayariga has maintained that his claims that monies were given to them and they returning them are facts, although Muntaka described the claims as ‘non-existent’ facts.
“I took the money is a fact; later we heard rumor is also a fact and we asked for investigation is also a fact,” he said.
Mr Muntaka said there was no discussion with the Bawku Central MP over request to know the source of the alleged GHC3,000.
