PC upholds bribery allegation against NPP MPs

Posted: The Chronicle | Friday, October 09, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu
The vociferous Member of Parliament (MP) for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa constituency in the Central region, P.C Appiah-Ofori remains resolute in his allegation that some of his colleague MPs on the then majority side took $5,000 bribe to approve of the Vodafone deal. According to the anti corruption crusader, he has enough evidence to prove his allegation against his colleagues.
Speaking to Joy FM yesterday, Hon. Appiah-Ofori cautioned members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), a party on which ticket he rode to Parliament, to refrain from further attacking him, or else he would produce evidence that would have serious implications on the party.

PC was reacting to a letter he sent to the NPP disciplinary committee, denying that he made GH¢5,000 bribery allegation against his colleagues. “There is a pressure group within the party which wants me to come out with documents to prove my case, if I come out, this party will collapse irretrievably,” he reiterated.

According to him, the allegation he made was that some of his colleague MPs took $5,000 bribe to approve the sale of Ghana Telecom to Vodafone, and not GH¢5,000 as alleged by Fredrick Opare Ansah, MP for Suhum, in his complaint to the committee.

Mr. Appiah-Ofori stated in his response to the disciplinary committee that “It is not true that I have at anytime and anywhere under the sun made the above statement.

I said GH $5,000. There is a difference between $5000 and GH¢5000”, he said.

He thus urged the leadership of the party, especially the disciplinary committee to do their home work well, by gathering the facts before they ask him to appear before them.

The Esikuma-Odoben-Brakwa legislator indicated his preparedness to cooperate with the committee if they write to him.