MPs in phone bribery scandal

GO hounds can confirm that all 275 Members of Parliament from both sides of the House have received free branded mobile phones as gift from ZTE Corporation from China through the Ministry of Communications.

About two weeks ago, Parliament threw out a report of the Joint Committee on Communications and Defence of Interior on the supply contract for dedicated security information system between the Government of Ghana (represented by Ministry of Communications) and ZTE Corporation, China on the basis that it was full of errors.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong also raised issues on the floor of the House about the records and questionable character of ZTE Corporation, China.

But when the errors in the report were corrected and presented again to Parliament, branded ZTE mobile phones were strategically put into the pigeon holes of all the 275 MPs by the Ministry of Communication as a gift from ZTE Corporations from China.

Parliament has since approved the contract making it possible for government to acquire a US$129.9 million security information system that will enable security agencies monitor the entire nation and respond swiftly to security emergencies.

Even though some of the MPs who confirmed receiving these branded ZTE phones were enthused about the project the contract sought to do, they were however, amazed to receive such gifts from ZTE Corporation at a time when Parliament was in the process of approving their contract, especially when the first report by the Joint Committee had been stepped down.

This reporter gathered that for fear of being whipped by their various Chief Whips, the MPs pleaded anonymity, expressing how such gifts could easily corrupt public office holders.

At a point when civil organizations, think tanks, institutions and other official bodies are expressing worry about the way the country can fight corruption, one wonders whether it is right for the legislative arm of government to accept gifts from companies and organizations especially when Parliament was in the process of approving their contracts.

Not long ago, a Ghanaian Information Communication Technology (ICT) company, RLG sent letters signed by the Executive Director, Prosper Harrison Addo, to all Members of Parliament that the company was ever willing to construct boreholes in suitable locations in their constituencies.

A move an anti-graft campaigner and Executive Director of Ghana on integrity Initiative (GII) said was a potential attempt to corrupt Parliament.

Even though the MPs accepted the phones, some have vowed not to use it because they believe their conversations could easily be bugged by the Ministry of Communications.

The contract was laid in the House on Thursday 19th September, 2013 and referred to the Joint Committee on Communications and Defence and Interior for consideration and report in pursuant to Standing Orders 158, 182 and 190.