Deputy Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Patricia Appiagyei, has returned GH¢70,000 allocated to her in connection with Parliament’s Appointments Committee, citing concerns over the source of the money and the circumstances under which it was given.
In a memorandum dated September 2, 2026, and addressed to Minority Chief Whip and Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Mrs Appiagyei said the amount was presented to her as an advance from the Majority Chief Whip, but she had no knowledge of its original source.
“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 stated.
According to her, she could not accept money when its source was unclear.
“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,” she said.
Mrs Appiagyei also expressed discomfort about receiving any financial benefit connected to the vetting of political colleagues appointed to leadership positions.
She specifically cited the vetting of Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Environment, Science and Technology Minister-designate Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.
“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,” she wrote.
The Asokwa MP further linked her decision to the Minority Caucus’ 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.
Minority members of the Appointments Committee walked out of the August 27 vetting, protesting what they described as irregularities in the procedure adopted by the committee’s leadership.
Mrs Appiagyei said it would therefore be inconsistent for her to accept any financial benefit associated with the process after taking a principled position against participating in the exercise.
“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 she had no intention of “extort[ing] any money” from any of the nominees.
The Deputy Minority Leader said her decision was also in support of Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, whom she said had similarly decided to return his share of the amount.
She consequently asked that the GH¢70,000 be returned to the Majority Chief Whip, with her reasons for rejecting the money communicated to him.
“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,” she wrote.
Mrs Appiagyei concluded by reaffirming her commitment to the position taken by the Minority Caucus.
Her decision is likely to intensify questions surrounding the purpose and source of the GH¢70,000 allocation, particularly after she stated that she was unaware of where the money originated.