Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has called on the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to expedite its investigation into allegations surrounding an alleged GH¢70,000 payment linked to the vetting of ministerial and Supreme Court nominees.
The matter involves Patricia Appiagyei, the Asokwa Member of Parliament and Deputy Minority Leader, after a purported memorandum circulated in the media alleging that she had received and returned GH¢70,000 connected to the work of Parliament's Appointments Committee.
The OSP has confirmed that it has commenced a preliminary investigation into the matter. However, the office has stressed that its inquiry is intended to establish the authenticity of the document, the source of the alleged funds and their purpose.
The controversy centres on a document allegedly written by Appiagyei and addressed to Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh. According to the purported memorandum, the money was allegedly provided as an advance from the Majority Chief Whip in connection with the vetting of two ministerial nominees and three Supreme Court nominees.
The alleged payment has raised questions about the integrity of Parliament's vetting process, particularly because the Appointments Committee plays a constitutionally important role in scrutinising presidential nominees for ministerial and judicial positions.
The OSP said the contents of the document raised concerns because they appeared to suggest that the alleged funds could have had links to the vetting process and potentially involved issues relating to extortion.
As part of its preliminary investigation, the OSP has invited Patricia Appiagyei to assist with its inquiries. The office has also stated that it is actively investigating allegations of extortion involving Members of Parliament.
However, Appiagyei has denied receiving any GH¢70,000 payment in connection with the vetting process. In a statement issued on September 4, she said the memorandum circulating in her name was fake and that she neither authored, authorised nor circulated it.
She further stated that she had not received any payment from anyone in relation to the vetting of nominees or her duties as a member of the Appointments Committee.
The Minority Caucus has also disputed the authenticity of the document. Second Deputy Minority Whip Jerry Ahmed Shaib described the circulating memorandum as fake and said Appiagyei had confirmed that she did not know its source or author.
The conflicting accounts have made establishing the authenticity of the purported memorandum a central part of the OSP's investigation.
Speaker Bagbin's call for an expedited probe places additional emphasis on the need for the matter to be resolved quickly and transparently, particularly given the constitutional importance of Parliament's Appointments Committee.
The investigation could help determine whether the alleged payment actually occurred, whether the document is genuine, and whether any wrongdoing occurred in connection with the parliamentary vetting process.
For now, no conclusion has been established that Appiagyei received the alleged payment or that any member of Parliament committed an offence. The OSP's investigation remains preliminary.
The controversy surrounding the alleged GH¢70,000 payment has triggered calls for a swift investigation. While the OSP examines the authenticity and circumstances surrounding the purported document, Patricia Appiagyei and the Minority Caucus have rejected the allegations and described the memorandum as fake. Speaker Bagbin's call for an expedited probe is expected to increase pressure for the matter to be clarified.