OSP probes alleged GH¢70,000 payment linked to parliamentary vetting

The Office of the Special Prosecutor has opened preliminary investigations into an alleged GH¢70,000 payment said to be connected to the vetting of ministerial and Supreme Court nominees by Parliament’s Appointments Committee.

The probe follows the circulation of a purported memorandum attributed to Asokwa MP and Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei.

The document is said to have been addressed to Minority Chief Whip and Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP, Frank Annoh-Dompreh.

In the alleged memo, Mrs Appiagyei is reported to have stated that she had returned GH¢70,000 given to her as an advance from the Majority Chief Whip in relation to the work of the Appointments Committee.

The OSP, in a statement issued on Friday, September 4, 2026, said the contents of the document raised concerns that required examination.

According to the anti-corruption body, the document appeared to question the source of the alleged money and suggested that the payment may have had “the hallmarks of extortion of the nominees.”

“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 a preliminary investigation into the veracity of the document, the source of the alleged funds, and the purpose of the alleged funds,” the statement said.

The OSP said Mrs Appiagyei has been invited to assist investigators.

The preliminary investigation will focus on whether the memorandum is genuine, where the alleged money came from and what it was meant for.

The Office also said it is actively investigating allegations of extortion involving Members of Parliament.

The development comes amid disagreement over the authenticity of the document.

The Minority Caucus has disputed the alleged memorandum.

Second Deputy Minority Whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has reportedly described the document as fake and rejected claims that Mrs Appiagyei returned GH¢70,000 linked to the vetting of ministers and Supreme Court nominees.

Earlier reports had suggested that Mrs Appiagyei rejected the money because she did not know its source and did not want to personally benefit from the vetting of members of the Majority leadership.

The controversy has renewed public scrutiny of financial arrangements around Parliament’s Appointments Committee.

The committee plays a key role in examining nominees for ministerial offices and other major public appointments, including Justices of the Supreme Court.

The allegations have therefore raised questions about whether committee members receive money connected to vetting activities, and if so, who provides such funds and for what purpose.

The Africa Centre for Parliamentary Affairs has also called for an independent investigation into the matter.

Its Executive Director, Dr Rasheed Draman, has said Parliament should establish whether such payments form part of a wider practice within its committees.

He has suggested that an ad hoc committee, possibly supported by eminent Ghanaians with no direct interest in the matter, could be set up to examine the allegations.

For now, the OSP says its preliminary inquiries will determine the veracity of the alleged memorandum, the source of the GH¢70,000 and the purpose for which the money was allegedly provided.