The Member of Parliament for the Bawku Central constituency in the Upper East Region, Mahama Ayariga says he doesn't know that Minority MPs took cash to approve President Nana Akufo-Addo's new ministerial nominees.
He said however the claims are being quibbled around after the nominees were approved by the Majority and many Minority MPs in spite of an express order to them by the National Democratic Congress leadership to dismiss the ministers, he has no proof such that cash changed hands for votes.
Talking about the issue on The Point of View on Citi TV, the Bawku Central lawmaker said the approval of the nominees may generally be because of the extensive lobbying by the nominees.
"The numbers that voted to approve the nominees stunned me, however I can let you know that the nominees lobbied extremely hard, and one reason informed the [NDC] party to give a statement to the Minority not to approve the nominees on the grounds that the party figured out that the Minority MPs were not finding it simple to oppose the lobbying."
He strongly added: "It wasn't altogether cash since I heard people say a few members took cash from the nominees, however I don't have proof that people took cash, thus I'm cautious about making statements like that. In any case, I realize that the nominees lobbied exceptionally hard and engaged the connections that they have with people in the Chamber."
Every one of the six nominees were approved after a secret vote on Friday, March 24, mocking the mandate of the NDC leadership.
The approval implied that Adansi Asokwa MP, K.T Hammond is set to turn into the Minister of Trade and Industry after he is sworn into office by the President with the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Dr. Stephen Amoah serving in as his deputy.
Bryan Acheampong is making a beeline for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Stephen Asamoah Boateng to the Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Ministry, Osei Bonsu Amoah to the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, and Dr Mohammed Amin Adam as a Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance.
The Minority MPs have experienced harsh criticism after the approval for betraying the leadership of the NDC.