The Chief Justice of Ghana is taking steps to solicit the assistance of the Member of Parliament of Asawase, Muntaka Mubarak to establish the facts following the allegation the lawmaker made against an unnamed justice of the Supreme Court who he claimed attempted to bribe National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP to vote for Professor Mike Oquaye during the election of a speaker for the 8th parliament.
A statement signed by Justice Cynthia Pamela Addo, Judicial
Secretary on Wednesday January 13 said “The Judiciary has noted with grave
concern the remarks of Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, Hon Member of Parliament for
Asawase, which have been widely published in the media alleging that a Justice
of the Supreme Court attempted to bribe a female Member of Parliament to vote
for Professors Mike Aaron Oquaye, in the election of a Speaker of the 8th Parliament,
which took place on 7th January 2021.
“The general
public is hereby assured that Hon Chief Justice considers this allegation of
impropriety a matter of grave important to the integrity of the Judiciary.
“The Hon Chief
Justice is therefore taking steps to solicit the assistance of Mohammed Muntaka
MP, to establish the fact in order that the matter can be dealt with
appropriately.”
Mr Muntaka has
alleged that a justice of the Supreme Court attempted to bribe some National
Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament to vote for Professor Mike Oquaye
during the election of the Speaker for the 8th Parliament.
He told Joy
News Sunday January 10 while discussing issues regarding the election of a
speaker for the 8th Parliament that “There was one that was led by, I mean so
shamefully, a Supreme Court judge [who] called a colleague lady, telling her
what they will give her, she has children [and] they will take care of her
children; she can take fuel from the filling station for the four years.”
He reiterated
his allegation on Citi TV Monday, January 11.
He said “The
former Majority Leader, the Leader of Government business over the
weekend was accusing the NDC’s side that we were bribing Members on their side.
“I said no, if
you are talking about bribing then find out who and who were calling
members from my side. And then, I went forward to say that I can
tell you , if he cares to know, even some members of the Supreme Court
were calling members of my side.
“One of the
person that they called , they were promising her all manner of things , that she
should mention her price. I don’t take what I say lightly, I have heard
people saying all manner of things , we know what we are doing and we
know what we are holding.”
When asked
whether he will be able to adduce evidence to that effect, he said ““Definitely
we will provide all those things , the call that he made, the time that the
call was made and everything is there, so it is not in doubt.
“ If it comes
to the probe of all the things that happened on that day I am
sure if it becomes necessary and it comes up,. Obviously it will be
made known , the Member on my side who was approached is alive , she is not
dead.”
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