The Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, has formally denied authoring the memo whose content was attributed to her.
The memo dated September 2, bore a signature purported to be hers.
In the memo under reference, the Member of Parliament for Asokwa supposedly rejected an amount of GHC70,000.
Her reason is that she does not know the source of the money.
“It is with regret that I return the amount of seventy thousand cedis (GHS70,000.00) allocated to me as an advance of money from the Majority Chief Whip of Parliament of Ghana. I am returning the money on the basis of the fact that, primarily, I do not know the source of the money being given to me,” the memo sighted by 3news indicated.
The Memo addressed to the Minority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam/ Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, explained further, “My first reason is the fact that I do not want to enjoy any financial benefit under any circumstances to vet our own colleagues in leadership from the other side being either Hon. Mahama Ayariga or Hon. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.”
“Secondly, due to the Minority’s protest and non-participation of the vetting of the three Judges namely; Justice Sophia Rosetta Oduokuwa Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and Justice Anthony Forson Jnr, on a matter of principle, I consider it totally unthinkable that I should enjoy any gift presented by any of the above judges. It is also not my intention to extort any money from any of the above judges,” she is alleged to have stated.
“In lieu of the above, and also in support of the Minority Leader’s decision to return his share of the amount sent to him in that respect, I humbly return the amount of seventy thousand cedis (GHS70,000.00) to be sent back to the Chief Whip of the Majority Caucus in Parliament bringing to his attention my reasons for doing so,” the memo concluded.
However, in a press release dated September 4, the Member of Parliament for Asokwa said “I state expressly and without qualification that I did not receive any payment of GH070,000, or any other sum, from any person in connection with the vetting of ministerial or Supreme Court nominees, or in connection with my duties as a member of the Appointments Committee.”
PLEASE READ FULL STATEMENT BELOW:
STATEMENT DENYING AUTHORSHIP OF FAKE MEMORANDUM AND RECEIPT OF ALLEGED GH070,000 PAYMENT
My attention has been drawn to a document circulating in the media, purporting to be a memorandum from me to the Minority Chief Whip, Hon. Frank Annoh-Dompreh, alleging that I received and returned GH¢70,000 in connection with the vetting of ministerial and Supreme Court nominees.
I did not write, authorise, or circulate this document. It is fake and should be disregarded by all.
I state expressly and without qualification that I did not receive any payment of GH070,000, or any other sum, from any person in connection with the vetting of ministerial or Supreme Court nominees, or in connection with my duties as a member of the Appointments Committee.
As I received no such payment, I had no occasion to return any such payment, contrary to what the fake document suggests.
I have at all times discharged my duties on the Committee, including in the recent vetting, with integrity.
I was at a funeral of a good friend since morning and when my attention was initially drawn to the FAKE news originating from my office, I assumed that the FAKE stamp which I authorised to be put on same was enough until it assumed full prominence in the media.
For the avoidance of doubt, the fabricated document falsely attributed to me is a serious matter. I am taking legal advice on appropriate next steps once the source is established, and I reserve all my rights in that regard, including against any person found responsible for the fabrication or knowing circulation of the document.
It is clear to me that some faceless individuals are up to some mischief to sow seeds of discord in our Caucus but this will fail. Though we walk through these difficult times, I wish to assure the rank and file of the New Patriotic Party and all Ghanaians that the Caucus stand united to rally behind our flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for victory 2028.
Hon. Patricia Appiagyci, Deputy Minority Leader.
