The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has extended an invitation to the Deputy Minoirty Leader, Patricia Appiagyei to appear before the office to assist with the preliminary inquiry into the alleged GH¢70,000 purportedly allocated to her in connection with the vetting of ministerial and nominees to the Supreme Court.
This comes after a memo circulating in the media allegedly indicates that Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Patricia Appiagyei, returned the money given to her.
In a statement on Friday, September 4, the anti-corruption agency said it had taken note of the document making rounds and has commenced preliminary investigation into the veracity of the document, the source of the alleged funds, and the purpose of the alleged funds.
The OSP said the contents of the purported memorandum raised concerns because it allegedly cast doubt on the source of the funds and suggested “that it had the hallmarks of extortion of the nominees.”
“Given the constitutional importance of the Appointments Committee of Parliament and the need to safeguard the integrity of the vetting process, and 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 preliminary investigation into the veracity of the document, the source of the alleged funds, and the purpose of the alleged funds.
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“To this effect, the OSP has dispatched a communication inviting Hon. Patricia Appiagyei to attend the OSP and assist it with the preliminary investigation,” the OSP noted.
The document, which is purportedly a memorandum from Appiagyei to Minority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam/Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, allegedly indicates that the lawmaker returned the money after questioning its source and purpose.
Per the memo, the alleged funds were purportedly advanced by the Majority Chief Whip in relation to the Appointments Committee’s vetting of two nominees for ministerial positions and three nominees to the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, Second Deputy Minority Whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has dismissed reports alleging that the Deputy Minority leader, Patricia Appiagyei has returned a GH¢70,000 “gift” given to her and other members of the Appointments Committee in relation to the recent vetting of some Ministerial nominees and Supreme Court Justices nominees.
According to him, there is “no truth whatsoever” in the allegation which is being contained in a purported memo addressed to the Minority Chief Whip.
Speaking exclusive to TV3 on NewsCentral, he said he had spoken directly with the Deputy Minority Leader, who is upset by the claims and has no idea the basis for the information circulating.
“There is no truth whatsoever in that story. I have spoken particularly to my Deputy Minority Leader who has been very upset with the seeming whatever is going round. She doesn’t even understand it and she is very upset,” Jerry Ahmed Shaib said on Friday, September 4.
He urged the public to disregard the information being circulated.
“She thinks that we should be careful how some of these things are generated,” he added.
The Weija-Gbawe MP stressed that the Minority Leader has not received any money to influence the vetting of the ministerial nominees.
“So, I can tell you on authority that I have not dealt with anyone, she has not dealt with anyone, I do not know who is dealing with this and where this is coming from.
“She had not received any money from anyone and she does not know where this is coming from with a certain signature of hers,” he remarked.