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Former First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and former Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joseph Osei-Owusu, popularly known as Joe Wise, has revealed that he received GHC2,000.00 from the Chief of Staff as a facilitation token for parliamentary work.
He said this was the highest amount he ever received while serving on the Appointments Committee.
His comments follow his recent revelation in an interview with Joy News, where he stated that the Chief of Staff used to provide the committee with tokens after sittings. However, he clarified that these did not constitute bribery.
Speaking on Angel Morning Show (AMS), Mr. Osei-Owusu explained that such facilitation gestures were intended to support their work, as their allowances were often delayed.
“When I joined Parliament in 2009, our sitting allowances were not paid for an entire year. So, when it was time for the Appointments Committee to carry out its duties, the leadership of Parliament would approach the Chief of Staff to explain that our allowances were not forthcoming. In response, the Chief of Staff would sometimes offer financial assistance to facilitate our work,” he said.
He further noted, “And when we completed our work, the Chief of Staff would sometimes give the committee a token. The highest I ever received from such a gesture was GHC2,000.00.”
The former Bekwai MP dismissed the public perception that MPs personally benefit from parliamentary duties, stressing that such beliefs are misplaced.
“Ghanaians exaggerate the situation based on their own assumptions, but the reality is different. The biggest amount I ever received was GHC2,000.00,” he added.
Mr. Osei-Owusu also mentioned that, despite the delays and unpaid allowances during his tenure on the Appointments Committee, they sometimes received as little as GHC500.
During his time in Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu served on several committees, including Roads and Transport, and Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs.
