OSP investigates alleged GH¢70,000 payment linked to Patricia Appiagyei and parliamentary vetting

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has begun preliminary investigations into an alleged GH¢70,000 payment, according to a statement released on September 4. The alleged payment is linked to a document purportedly written by Patricia Appiagyei, the MP for Asokwa and Deputy Minority Leader, and addressed to Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Minority Chief Whip and Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP.

In the document, Mrs Appiagyei claimed to have returned the funds she received as an advance from the Majority Chief Whip, connected to the Appointments Committee's vetting activities. The OSP is investigating the document's authenticity, the source of the alleged funds, and their intended purpose. The Minority Caucus has disputed the document's authenticity, calling it fake.

This investigation comes amid conflicting accounts and raises questions about financial arrangements surrounding Parliament's Appointments Committee and the conduct of members during the vetting of presidential nominees. The controversy has also reignited discussions about potential wider practices within Parliament's committees and whether members receive payments connected to the vetting process.

The Africa Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) has called for an independent investigation, suggesting that Parliament could establish an ad hoc committee to examine the issue. The OSP's preliminary investigation will focus on the authenticity of the document, the origin of the alleged GH¢70,000, and the intended purpose of the money. Patricia Appiagyei is expected to assist in the OSP's inquiries.