The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has opened preliminary investigations into an alleged GH¢70,000 payment said to be connected to the vetting of ministerial and Supreme Court nominees by Parliament’s Appointments Committee.
The probe centres on a purported memorandum allegedly authored by Asokwa MP and Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, and addressed to Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh.
According to the document, Mrs Appiagyei allegedly returned GH¢70,000 she had received as an advance from the Majority Chief Whip for activities related to the Appointments Committee’s vetting process.
The OSP, in a statement issued on Friday, September 4, said the contents of the purported memo warranted an investigation into the source, purpose and authenticity of the alleged payment.
“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 statement read.
The anti-graft agency has consequently invited Mrs Appiagyei to appear before it and assist with the preliminary investigation.
The alleged memo, dated September 2, stated: “It is with regret that I return the amount of seventy thousand cedis (GH¢70,000.00) allocated to me as an advance of money from the Majority Chief Whip of Parliament of Ghana. I am returning the money on the basis of the fact that, primarily, I do not know the source of the money being given to me”.
The document further indicated that Mrs Appiagyei did not wish to benefit financially from the vetting of colleagues in leadership from the Majority side, naming Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Deputy Majority Leader Zanetor Agyemang Rawlings.
The purported memo also referenced the Minority Caucus’ protest and boycott of the August 27 vetting of Supreme Court nominees Justice Sophia Rosetta Oduokuwa Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and Justice Anthony Forson Jnr.
The authenticity of the document, however, has been challenged by the Minority Caucus. Second Deputy Minority Whip Jerry Ahmed Shaib has described the memo as fake.
The Africa Centre for Parliamentary Affairs has meanwhile called for an independent probe into the allegations, while anti-corruption campaigner Vitus Azeem has called on CHRAJ and the OSP to investigate.
The OSP says its investigation forms part of a broader probe into allegations of extortion involving Members of Parliament.
