The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has launched a preliminary investigation into an alleged GH¢70,000 payment reportedly linked to the vetting of ministerial and Supreme Court nominees by Parliament’s Appointments Committee.
The investigation follows the circulation of a purported memorandum attributed to Asokwa MP and Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, and addressed to Minority Chief Whip and Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP, Frank Annoh-Dompreh.
In the document, Mrs Appiagyei is alleged to have stated that she returned GH¢70,000 presented to her as an advance from the Majority Chief Whip in connection with the Appointments Committee’s vetting activities.
However, the authenticity of the memorandum has been disputed by members of the Minority Caucus.
In a statement issued on Friday, September 4, the OSP said the contents of the document raised concerns about the source and purpose of the alleged funds, as well as possible extortion of nominees.
“Taking into consideration the content of the document to the effect that Hon. Patricia Appiagyei purportedly cast doubt on the source of the alleged funds and that it had the hallmarks of extortion of the nominees, the OSP has commenced a preliminary investigation into the veracity of the document, the source of the alleged funds, and the purpose of the alleged funds,” the OSP said.
As part of the investigation, the OSP has invited Mrs Appiagyei to appear before the office to assist with its inquiries.
The investigation will seek to establish whether the purported memorandum is genuine, where the alleged GH¢70,000 came from and what it was intended for.
The OSP also disclosed that it is actively investigating allegations of extortion involving Members of Parliament.
The development comes amid conflicting accounts over the alleged payment.
Second Deputy Minority Whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has reportedly rejected the claim that Mrs Appiagyei returned GH¢70,000 given to her in connection with the vetting of ministers and Supreme Court nominees, describing the circulating document as fake.
Earlier reports, however, suggested that Mrs Appiagyei rejected the alleged payment because she was uncertain about its source and did not want to personally benefit from the vetting process.
The controversy has intensified scrutiny of the financial arrangements surrounding Parliament’s Appointments Committee and the conduct of MPs during the vetting of presidential nominees.
The Africa Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) has also called for an independent investigation into the allegations.
ACEPA Executive Director, Dr Rasheed Draman, has urged Parliament to establish whether such payments form part of a wider practice within its committees. He has suggested the creation of an ad hoc committee, potentially involving eminent Ghanaians with no direct interest in the matter, to investigate the claims.
