OSP SUMMONS MAMA PAT OVER GH¢70,000 ‘VETTING MONEY’ CLAIM

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has commenced preliminary investigations into allegations surrounding an alleged GH¢70,000 payment to the Deputy Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Patricia Appiagyei, following the vetting of ministerial and Supreme Court nominees by Parliament’s Appointments Committee.

The investigation follows a document circulating in the media, purportedly authored by Madam Appiagyei and addressed to the Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh.

In the purported memorandum, Madam Appiagyei is said to have returned GH¢70,000, which she claimed had been allocated to her as an advance from the Majority Chief Whip.

According to the document, the Asokwa MP said she decided to return the money because she did not know its source and did not wish to derive any financial benefit from participating in the vetting of colleagues in political leadership.

She was also quoted as raising concerns over the vetting of two ministerial nominees—Mahama Ayariga and Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings—as well as three nominees to the Supreme Court.

The purported memorandum further stated that, following the Minority’s decision not to participate in the vetting of Justices Sophia Rosetta Oduokuwa Bernasko Essah, Edward Amoako Asante and Anthony Forson, she considered it inappropriate to benefit financially in connection with the process.

However, in a statement issued on the matter, the OSP said it had taken note of the document and was investigating its authenticity, as well as the alleged source and purpose of the GH¢70,000.

The anti-graft body said the content of the purported memorandum raised concerns about the integrity of Parliament’s vetting process.

The OSP noted that Madam Appiagyei had allegedly expressed doubts about the source of the money and that the circumstances described in the document could point to possible extortion involving nominees who appeared before the Appointments Committee.

“Given the constitutional importance of the Appointments Committee of Parliament and the need to safeguard the integrity of the vetting process,” the OSP said it had commenced preliminary investigations into “the veracity of the document, the source of the alleged funds, and the purpose of the alleged funds.”

The Office said it had subsequently dispatched a communication inviting the Deputy Minority Leader to appear before it and assist with the preliminary investigation.

“The OSP is actively investigating all extortion allegations involving Members of Parliament,” the statement added.

The investigation is therefore expected to establish whether the circulating memorandum is authentic, whether the alleged GH¢70,000 was indeed distributed, where the money came from and the purpose for which it was allegedly allocated.

The OSP has not, in its statement, announced any criminal charges against Madam Appiagyei or any other person in connection with the matter.