Former Ranking Member of the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament, Inusah Fuseini, has chastised the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for defending Professor Kingsley Nyarko's alleged bribery of Electoral Commission (EC) temporary staff in the Ejisu by-election.
In a statement on Thursday, May 2, the NPP MP said the EC "has over the years built an image of credibility, integrity, honesty and discipline, and I will not do anything untoward to erode such virtues."
Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on May 2, Mr Fuseini said the party should have referred the matter to the police rather than jumping in to defend the MP’s actions.
He explained that the NPP's actions contradict the core principles of democracy and were only worsening the monetisation of politics.
“I think what the NPP should have done was to refer him to the police and not defend him. That is the first step because that goes to the core of our democracy. We are all bemoaning the monetisation of our politics.
“Now there is an attempt to corrupt public officers in the performance of their duties in a public election.
- Read also: ‘I did not bribe anybody, my action was misconstrued’ – MP involved in Ejisu ‘envelope’ incident
“That is dangerous. That is very dangerous. So NPP itself ought to have reported the conduct of the Member of Parliament of Kwadaso to the Police for investigation”he said.
The former legislator explained that Professor Nyarko’s involvement in the alleged bribery incident brought his office as a Parliamentarian into disrepute, hence the House could evoke a standing order to ensure the MP faces the necessary sanctions.
“Again this is a Member of Parliament. The ethics of a Member of Parliament that I know of forbids a Member of Parliament from bringing the office of Parliament into disrepute.
- Read also: Ejisu by-election: NPP MP for Kwadaso, Kingsley Nyarko fingered in alleged electoral malpractice
"For a Member of Parliament to be aware that you have that ethics in Parliament and boldly stands before election officers and give them an envelope containing money on the pretence that he is feeding them is totally against the ethics of Parliament and I think that Parliament itself can invoke the standing orders of Parliament against the Member of Parliament for bringing the office of Parliament into disrepute,” he told host, Samuel Kojo Brace.
In a viral video during the Ejisu by-election on Tuesday, Dr Nyarko was seen approaching the table and dropping an envelope on the table manned by the presiding Officer and the Ballot Issuer.
The EC subsequently withdrew the two officials at the Fumesua Pentecost Church Polling Station stating it has started investigations into the matter.
Latest Stories
-
Enimil Ashon: Surest (only) way to stop election violence
15 mins -
Today’s front pages: Friday, May 17, 2024
18 mins -
Relationship expert doubts ‘perfect love’ exists
18 mins -
Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyabeng facing impeachment
2 hours -
Mass wedding plans for Nigerian orphans spark outrage
2 hours -
Election 2024: Our situation may be bad, but better than being at war – Kofi Amoabeng
2 hours -
Parliament to reconvene today for an emergency sitting
3 hours -
Medikal to cover tuition fees for students on upcoming school tour
3 hours -
Cecilia Dapaah’s husband testifies in alleged $1m theft case
3 hours -
Ghana Shippers’ Authority takes steps to reduce the cost of cargo clearance
3 hours -
Stevie Wonder presented with Bridge Builder Award by Diaspora African Forum
3 hours -
Kusaal language goes live on Wikipedia
4 hours -
South Koreans compete to see who’s best at doing absolutely nothing
4 hours -
Scientists may have solved mystery behind Egypt’s pyramids
4 hours -
Court remands man over alleged theft of fuel dispensers
5 hours