The Minority Leader of Parliament, Patricia Appiagyei, has denied authoring a memorandum circulating in the media which purportedly stated that she had received and returned GH¢70,000 allegedly described as a “gift” for members of Parliament’s Appointments Committee.

In a statement issued in response to the document, Appiagyei described the memorandum as fake and urged the public to disregard it.

“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,” she stated.

The disputed memorandum had purportedly suggested that the Deputy Minority Leader returned GH¢70,000 allegedly received in connection with the work of the Appointments Committee.

Appiagyei, however, categorically denied receiving the money or any other payment related to the vetting process or her duties on the committee.

Three times Parliament’s Appointment Committee has been accused of taking ‘gifts’

“I state expressly and without qualification that I did not receive any payment of GH¢70,000, 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,” she said.

She added that since she did not receive such a payment, she had no reason to return any money, contrary to the claims contained in the circulating document.

The Minority Leader further reaffirmed her commitment to carrying out her responsibilities on the Appointments Committee with integrity, including during the committee’s recent vetting exercise.

Explaining why she did not immediately respond to the document, Appiagyei said she had been attending the funeral of a close friend when she was first informed about what she described as “fake news” originating from her office.

She explained that she initially assumed the fake stamp appearing on the document, which she had authorised to be used, would be sufficient to expose the document as inauthentic.

However, she said the issue gained significant attention after the document began circulating widely in the media.

Appiagyei said she considers the fabrication and circulation of the document a serious matter and has begun considering legal action.

“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,” she stated.

She said she was taking legal advice on the appropriate steps to take once the source of the document was established, while reserving her rights against anyone found to have fabricated or knowingly circulated it.

Despite the controversy, Appiagyei sought to reassure members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the wider public that the party’s Minority Caucus remained united.

“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,” she added.

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