Two governance experts say only an external body can do a thorough investigation into allegations that some MPs received monies to approve the president's nominee for Energy ministry Boakye Agyarko.

The Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS), Dr. Eric Oduro Osae and a Senior Researcher at the Center for Democratic Development (CDD), Regina Tetteh have raised doubts that the Privileges Committee of Parliament can do this job.

Speaking on ADOM FM’S BURNING ISSUES current affairs programme Monday, they called on the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye to allow an external body to investigate the Members of Parliament’s bribery scandal.

Explaining his doubts about the Privileges Committee's suitability for the work, Dr. Eric Oduro said the committee is chaired by the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu who has been named in the scandal.

“The speaker must allow independent body to investigate this bribery scandal not Parliament” Dr. Oduro Osae stated.

Already, the Chairman of the Committee, Joe Osei Owusu has expressed his disappointment over the scandal which suggested that 3000 cedis each was paid to some NDC MPs in the approval of the minister designate of Energy, Boakye Agyarko.

The Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has supported the call for 'full-scale investigations' pointing out that the bribery scandal is threatening to dent the image of Parliament.

It is not clear whether he backs a Privileges committee-led investigations or an external body to carry out the inquiry.

But Dr. Osae said proper investigations must be conducted to help the fight against perceived corruption in the legislature.

He stressed that leadership of Parliament must not spare any member found culpable after the investigations.

A CDD Senior Researcher Regina Tetteh wants the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), which has already shown interest, to investigate the alleged bribery allegation in Parliament if its leadership fails in that regard.

According to her, the current bribery scandal has brought a disgrace to our Parliament and their reputations in the world and the country’s image is at stake.

She stated that former MP for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Paul Collins Appiah Ofori and Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin have also made such allegations but nothing good came out from the investigation.

Regina Tetteh said it about time leadership of Parliament must take the issue serious to avoid a re-occurrence and restore the dignity of Parliament.