Former First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, has found himself at the center of a controversy after admitting that members of the Appointments Committee receive money from the Chief of Staff after vetting nominees.
According to Osei-Owusu, this practice is not bribery, but rather a way to facilitate their work. He explained that the Chief of Staff would often bring money to the committee members after they had completed their work, and he saw it as a harmless gesture.
However, not everyone shares Osei-Owusu‘s view, with former Auditor General Daniel Yaw Domelevo describing the practice as problematic and calling for its immediate cessation.
Domelevo argued that such payments could compromise the integrity of Parliament’s work and create room for undue influence.
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The debate has sparked intense discussion about the independence of Parliament and whether financial incentives can compromise the vetting process
