Avedzi's admission of accepting 'bribe' from NLA must be investigated - Former MP

A former Member of Parliament (MP), lawyer Frank Agyin has called on parliament to institute an investigation into the latest alleged bribery scandal involving the immediate-past members of Parliament's Finance Committee.

Legal Advisor to the National Lottery Authority has admitted that the National Lottery Authority allegedly bribed.

The lotteries regulatory agency led by former Boss, Brigadier General Martin Ahiaglo (Retired), Allegedly spent ?150,000 to facilitate deliberations on the amendment of the National Lottery Act, 2006 (Act 722).

Legal Advisor to the NLA, David Lamptey in separate emails to the Director-General then, Brigadier General Mertin Ahiaglo (Retired) in August 2016, which have been intercepted by Accra based Joy FM, requested for the approval of a total sum ?150,000 presumably to “push the bill for the consideration” by parliamentarians.

The then Chairman of the Finance Committee, James Klutse Avedzi admitted collecting money from the NLA but said they received only ?100,000.

The former legislator speaking to Kwame Tutu on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM described the allegation as unfortunate and an indictment on the August House.

In the view of the private legal practitioner, the speaker must probe the matter to ascertain the truth.

‘’I am shocked that Hon. Avedzi made that admission. It will be unfortunate for him to make such a statement. I do not have the facts but if he said that, Parliament should institute a committee to investigate and establish the truth. If a demand was made, that was bad and I will call for a full scale investigation into the matter.''

He described the work of Parliament as a tedious one with a lot of stress and demands from constituents. The work of an MP is stressful, we rush into it but after getting there we realize that it is stressful.''

People who go to Parliament he said,must be men and women of integrity adding, '' the caliber of people who make parliament must live above expectations. It shouldn't be a place to make money or chase after ministerial positions. It should be a place where the people think about Ghana and want to make Ghana a better place but not to go there and start making a living.''