The Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Patricia Appiagyei has returned an amount of GHC70,000 she described as ‘gift’ to members of the Appointments Committee.
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 Deputy Minority Leader stated in a Memo dated September 2, cited by 3news.
In the Memo addressed to the Minority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam Adoagiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, she 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 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,” Mrs Appiagyei stated.
It is recalled that members of the Minority Caucus in Parliament walked out on proceedings during the vetting of three Supreme Court judge nominees on August 27,
They cited what they term irregular procedure adopted by the leadership of the Committee.
Before leaving the session, the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin stated their objection to the procedure adopted by the leadership of the Committee.
“The procedure that has been adopted is at variance with the orders of the House. How can you ask us to vet Supreme Court judges with three days’ notice,” he queried.
This was preceded by extensive debate between him and the Chairman of the Committee, Bernard Ahiafor.
“The standard practice is to give fourteen days’ notice, advertise in the newspapers before the vetting is done,” Afenyo-Markin stressed.
He proceeded to read concerns raised by then Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, when a similar situation, in which a short notice was given for the vetting of Supreme Court nominees.
Afenyo-Markin stated that, “to the nominees, we are not against your nomination, we are against the procedure, and we cannot be part of this.”
He then walked out, followed by other Minority members of the Committee.
