The former First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, has provided insights into how members of the Appointments Committee receive payments to facilitate their work.<\/p>\n Speaking in an interview on JoyNews on January 29, 2025, Osei-Owusu, affectionately known as Joe Wise, recalled his time as Chairman of the Appointments Committee. <\/p>\n He shared that the Chief of Staff typically provides committee members with money, usually after they have vetted ministerial nominees, acknowledging that these monetary payments were intended to facilitate the committee\u2019s work smoothly and efficiently.<\/p>\n According to the former Member of Parliament for Bekwai, such actions should not be linked to or described as bribery. He expressed his strong disapproval of such claims.<\/p>\n Joe Wise further explained that the payments from the Chief of Staff do not influence or sway the committee\u2019s decision-making during the vetting and subsequent approval of ministerial nominees, emphasising that these payments do not give any nominee an unfair advantage.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I joined the Appointments Committee, most of the time at the close of our work, the Chief of Staff would bring money to the members of the committee. It’s like facilitating our work. I wonder why anybody could link that to bribery. How can it be influence peddling? It does not give advantage or disadvantage to anybody,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The former lawmaker\u2019s comments come amid controversy surrounding the Appointments Committee, following serious bribery allegations made against the committee by social activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Barker-Vormawor has since apologized and he did so with an assurance that he would delete the post which incurred the spleen of the committee members.<\/p>\n “The corruption that Ghanaians talk about is not Ghc2000 or Ghc1000 to committee members to do their work.”<\/p>\n – Joe Wise on why he thinks those amounts to Appointment Committee members are not enough to be termed as bribery. #JoySMS<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/bUr3zGiGaE<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Joy 99.7 FM (@Joy997FM) January 30, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cMost of the time, at the close of our work, the Chief of Staff will bring money to the members of the [Appointment] Committee\u201d – Joe Osei-Owusu<\/p>\n What is your take on this; bribery, or influence peddling, or no meaning to it? <\/p>\n Share your views with the hashtag #JoySMS<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/fRyXnHAzQx<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Joy 99.7 FM (@Joy997FM) January 30, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n MAG\/EK<\/p>\n Watch as Ahmed Ibrahim says Ghanaians agree that MMDCEs must be elected on non-partisan basis<\/b><\/p>\n![\"Joseph](\"https:\/\/cdn.ghanaweb.com\/imagelib\/pics\/771\/77129278.295.jpg\" "\\"Joseph")
Joseph Osei-Owusu is the former First Deputy Speaker in parliament<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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