Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka has rebuffed claims MPs took bribes to approve a power-related agreement in 2015.
The Minority Chief Whip in an interview with JoyNews said, as a member of the Energy Committee of the House in 2015, “not a dime came to anyone.”
He recounted that the alleged payer of the said bribes, immediate past Tema Oil Refinery boss, Asante Berko, has even denied the impropriety.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday, filed a civil suit against the former Goldman executive.
The US institution says as a worker with the company’s London subsidiary, Berko, facilitated up to $4.5million bribes to help a Turkish company to win a contract for a power plant.
However, Mr. Berko, who has since resigned his post as TOR boss following the allegations, has denied same, describing them as “false.”
“I state categorically that I have not paid any bribes to government officials, Members of Parliament nor any officials of Parliament.
“I have had no contact with Members of Parliament nor officials of Parliament, regarding the approval of this transaction,” he wrote in the statement.
However, the Asawase MP, Muntaka has not ruled out the need for a local probe into the issue.
“…because the man is a public officer [ex] it may make some sense…if Parliament decides to probe into it to be able to settle it once and for all,” Muntaka said.
He reiterated that he has “never seen that gentleman [Berko] not to talk of money exchanging hands.”
Mr. Berko, has meanwhile, said his lawyers are challenging the lawsuit filed by the US SEC in a bid to clear his “good name.”
SOURCES: myjoyonline.com
