Deputy Minority Leader and Asokwa MP, Patricia Appiagyei, has refunded GH¢70,000 allocated to her for work on Parliament’s Appointments Committee, citing unease about the source and circumstances of the payment.
In a memorandum dated September 2, 2026, addressed to Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh‑Dompreh, she explained that the money had been presented as an advance from the Majority Chief Whip, though she was unaware of its origin. “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,” she wrote.
Mrs. Appiagyei stressed that her primary concern was the lack of clarity surrounding the source of the funds, adding that she was uncomfortable receiving any financial benefit tied to the vetting of ministerial and Supreme Court nominees.
She specifically mentioned the vetting process for Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Environment Minister Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings. She stated that she did not want to receive any financial benefits from participating in the scrutiny of her colleagues on the Majority side. “My first reason is that I do not want to gain any financial benefit under any circumstances for vetting our own colleagues in leadership, whether it be Hon. Mahama Ayariga or Hon. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings,” she wrote.
The Asokwa MP also connected her decision to the Minority’s refusal to participate in the vetting of three Supreme Court nominees: Justice Sophia Rosetta Oduokuwa Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, and Justice Anthony Forson Jnr. The members of the Minority on the Appointments Committee walked out of the vetting held on August 27, protesting what they described as irregularities in the procedures followed by the committee’s leadership.
Mrs Appiagyei emphasised that, having taken a principled stance against participating in that particular exercise, it would be inconsistent for her to later accept any financial benefits related to the process. “Due to the Minority’s protest and non-participation in the vetting of the three Judges… on a matter of principle, I consider it totally unthinkable that I should enjoy any gift presented by any of the above judges,” she stated.
She added that it was also not her intention to “extort any money” from any of the nominees. The Deputy Minority Leader said her decision was also intended to support Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, whom she said had similarly decided to return his share of the money. Mrs Appiagyei consequently asked for the GH¢70,000 to be returned to the Majority Chief Whip, with her reasons for rejecting the money communicated to him.
“Instead 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,” she wrote.
She concluded the memorandum by reaffirming her commitment to the position taken by the Minority Caucus. The development is likely to raise further questions about the purpose and source of the GH¢70,000 allocation, particularly in light of Mrs Appiagyei’s insistence that she was unaware of where the money originated.
