Deputy Minority Leader and Asokwa MP, Patricia Appiagyei, has returned GH¢70,000 she received in connection with the work of Parliament’s Appointments Committee, saying she was uncomfortable with both the source of the money and the circumstances under which it was given.
In a September 2, 2026 memorandum to Minority Chief Whip and Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Mrs Appiagyei explained that the amount was presented to her as an advance from the Majority Chief Whip, but said she was unaware of where the funds originated.
“It is with regret that I return the amount of seventy thousand cedis (GHS70,000.00) allocated to me as an advance of money from the Majority Chief Whip of Parliament of Ghana,” she stated.
She said she could not in good conscience accept money when its source had not been disclosed to her.
“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 Deputy Minority Leader said.
Beyond the source of the funds, Mrs Appiagyei said she was opposed to receiving any financial benefit connected to the vetting of political colleagues seeking leadership positions.
She mentioned the vetting of Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Environment Minister Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, stressing that she did not want to personally benefit from the process of scrutinising members of the Majority side.
“My first reason is the fact that I do not want to enjoy any financial benefit under any circumstances to vet our own colleagues in leadership from the other side, being either Hon. Mahama Ayariga or Hon. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings,” she wrote.
Her position, she explained, was also informed by the Minority’s decision not to participate in the August 27 vetting of three Supreme Court nominees: Justice Sophia Rosetta Oduokuwa Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and Justice Anthony Forson Jnr.
Minority members of the Appointments Committee had walked out of the exercise, citing what they described as procedural irregularities.
Mrs Appiagyei argued that accepting a financial benefit linked to the exercise after taking a principled position against participating in it would be contradictory.
“Due to the Minority’s protest and non-participation in the vetting of the three Judges… on a matter of principle, I consider it totally unthinkable that I should enjoy any gift presented by any of the above judges,” she stated.
She further said she had no intention to “extort any money” from the nominees.
The Asokwa MP also said returning the money was consistent with the position taken by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who she indicated had decided to return his share of the allocation.
She subsequently requested that the GH¢70,000 be returned to the Majority Chief Whip, together with an explanation of why she had rejected the funds.
“In lieu of the above, and also in support of the Minority Leader’s decision to return his share of the amount sent to him in that respect, I humbly return the amount of seventy thousand cedis (GHS70,000.00) to be sent back to the Chief Whip of the Majority Caucus in Parliament, bringing to his attention my reasons for doing so,” she wrote.
Mrs Appiagyei ended her memorandum by reaffirming her support for the position adopted by the Minority Caucus.
Her decision is expected to fuel further scrutiny of the GH¢70,000 allocation, particularly over its stated purpose, source and connection to the Appointments Committee’s vetting activities.
