Deputy Minority Leader and Asokwa MP Patricia Appiagyei has returned GH¢70,000 sent to her by the Majority Chief Whip, saying she does not want to personally benefit from a parliamentary process involving the vetting of members of the governing side’s leadership.
In a memorandum dated September 2 and addressed to Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh, with Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin copied, Mrs Appiagyei directed that the money be returned to the Majority Chief Whip.
She said she was uncomfortable accepting the funds because she had not been informed about their source and did not want to receive any financial benefit connected to the vetting process.
“It is with regret that I return the amount of seventy thousand cedis (GH¢70,000.00) allocated to me as an advance of money from the Majority Chief Whip of Parliament of Ghana,” she stated.
Mrs Appiagyei also linked her decision to the Minority Caucus’ position on the vetting of three Supreme Court nominees. She reaffirmed her support for the caucus’ stance and noted that her decision was consistent with that of Mr Afenyo-Markin, who had also returned his allocation.
Minority rejects vetting process
The development comes after the Minority Caucus withdrew from the vetting of three Supreme Court nominees, citing concerns over the procedure adopted by the Parliamentary Appointments Committee.
The nominees are Justice Sophia Rosetta Oduokuwa Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and Justice Anthony Forson Jnr.
Minority members walked out of the committee’s proceedings on August 27 after objecting to what they described as inadequate notice for the vetting.
Mr Afenyo-Markin argued that the procedure was inconsistent with established parliamentary practice, which, according to him, requires sufficient notice before nominees are vetted.
“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 questioned.
He said the usual practice was to provide 14 days’ notice and advertise the vetting in newspapers.
The Minority Leader also stressed that the caucus’ objection was directed at the process and not the nominees themselves.
“To the nominees, we are not against your nomination; we are against the procedure, and we cannot be part of this,” he said.
Mrs Appiagyei’s decision to return the GH¢70,000 therefore adds to the Minority Caucus’ objections surrounding the vetting process, while also reflecting her stated concern about accepting money whose source she said was unclear.
