The Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Bekwai Constituency, Hon. Joseph Osei-Owusu has strongly refuted claims that certain financial facilitation mechanisms within Parliament constitute bribery or corruption.
Speaking on the matter, he explained that budget releases for parliamentary work are often delayed or not forthcoming, making it necessary for leadership to find alternative ways to fund committee activities.
Hon. Osei-Owusu recounted his experiences in Parliament, highlighting how committee activities frequently faced financial constraints due to the non-release of budget allocations. He emphasized;
“First and foremost, it is true Parliament has a budget which is supposed to cater for committee sittings and so on. But in 2009 when I joined Parliament, often there are no releases. And so you will sit through and do your work, and the releases will not come.”
Hon. Joseph Osei-Owusu Former MP for Bekwai Constituency
He stressed that in the absence of these funds, Parliament had to look for alternative means to ensure that its work was not stalled.
Hon. Osei-Owusu further explained that in situations where Parliament’s budget had not been released, the Chief of Staff would step in to ensure that the necessary funds were provided to keep committee work going. These funds were channeled through the Clerk to the Committee, not given directly to MPs for personal gain.
He insisted that what was happening was a necessary facilitation of parliamentary work, not an attempt to unduly influence MPs. He refuted; “To suggest that this is bribery, is to say that the person doesn’t understand how the public service works.”
He clarified that the practice was a long-standing one and that such financial releases were needed to keep parliamentary business running efficiently.
“In fact, in Parliament, let me say that often when our budget is not released, we hold the Finance Minister to ransom when he has a critical work to be done. We’ll state, ‘Unless you release our budget allocation, we will not go on with the work.’’
Hon. Joseph Osei-Owusu Former MP for Bekwai Constituency
He maintained that such actions were not bribery, as they did not give anyone an undue advantage. He queried;
“I don’t know how anybody can call that bribery. Bribery must give somebody an advantage or disadvantage. But facilitating my work because the financial release that ought to have come to the institution I work for has not come is not bribery.”
Hon. Joseph Osei-Owusu Former MP for Bekwai Constituency
The former MP questioned why people viewed the financial facilitation of parliamentary work as bribery when similar practices occurred in other professions, including the media.
He argued that journalists and agencies often required financial facilitation to carry out assignments, yet such actions were not labeled as bribery.
Challenges with Budget Allocations in Parliament
Hon. Osei-Owusu shed more light on the financial struggles Parliament faced, particularly in the release of funds for administrative purposes. He explained;
“I can assure you, apart from emoluments which are mainly salaries, you will struggle to get a quarter. And if you follow the budget process all the time, if anybody was following, other committees showed 40% of our budget released. The rest nothing.”
Hon. Joseph Osei-Owusu Former MP for Bekwai Constituency
He emphasized that this lack of financial release made it necessary for alternative funding sources to be used to ensure that parliamentary committees could function effectively. He insisted that this was a known practice that helped Parliament function despite budgetary shortfalls. He added;
“Let me put it on record that from 2009 to 2015, when I was a member of Parliament and indeed, the Chief also confirmed this. If at any point in time, there were challenges to funding our work, the Chief of Staff would facilitate the work by releasing money to the Clerk of the Committee to serve members.”
Hon. Joseph Osei-Owusu Former MP for Bekwai Constituency
He concluded his argument by asserting that anyone who considered this practice to be corruption was mistaken, stating; “If anybody thinks that this is corruption, I beg to differ.”
Hon. Joe Osei-Owusu’s remarks highlight the persistent financial constraints faced by Parliament in executing its duties.
He maintained that the facilitation of committee work through financial support from the Chief of Staff is not an act of bribery but rather a necessary response to budgetary delays. His statements also expose the broader issue of budget disbursement challenges within Ghana’s public institutions, which often hinder the smooth operation of government bodies.
While his argument aims to provide clarity, it raises important questions about financial management and accountability in Parliament.
Critics may still question whether such funding mechanisms create avenues for undue influence, even if they are not outright bribery. Nonetheless, his defense underscores the reality of financial struggles within public service and the need for timely budget releases to ensure smooth governance.
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