The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has commenced a preliminary investigation into a purported memorandum alleging that Deputy Minority Leader and Asokwa MP, Patricia Appiagyei, returned GH¢70,000 allegedly given to her in connection with the vetting of ministerial and Supreme Court nominees.
The OSP said it had taken note of the document circulating on social media and was investigating its authenticity, the source of the alleged funds and the purpose for which the money was purportedly provided.
According to the OSP, the document raises concerns because it purportedly casts doubt on the source of the funds and suggests that the money may have been connected to the vetting process of two ministerial nominees and three Supreme Court nominees.
The Office said it had consequently invited Mrs Appiagyei to appear before it and assist with the preliminary investigation.
The Memo is Fake – Deputy Minority Whip
The development has, however, been complicated by a strong denial from the Minority Caucus, which says the memorandum is not authentic. Second Deputy Minority Whip and Weija-Gbawe MP, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, said there was “no truth whatsoever” in the reports and urged the public to disregard the purported memorandum.
Speaking to TV3 on Friday, September 4, Mr Shaib said he had spoken directly to Mrs Appiagyei, who, he said, was upset by the reports and did not understand where the document had originated.
“There is no truth whatsoever in that story. I have spoken particularly to my Deputy Minority Leader who has been very upset with the seeming whatever is going round. She doesn’t even understand it and she is very upset,” he said.
He further insisted that neither he nor Mrs Appiagyei had received money to influence the vetting process.
“So, I can tell you on authority that I have not dealt with anyone, she has not dealt with anyone, I do not know who is dealing with this and where this is coming from. She had not received any money from anyone and she does not know where this is coming from with a certain signature of hers.” he said
Contents of the Memo
The document at the centre of the controversy is dated September 2, 2026, and is purportedly addressed by Mrs Appiagyei to Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh, with Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin copied.
It allegedly states that Mrs Appiagyei was returning GH¢70,000 described as an advance from the Majority Chief Whip. The purported memo gives as one of the reasons for the return that she did not know the source of the money.
It also allegedly states that she did not want to derive any financial benefit from vetting members of the Majority’s leadership, specifically Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Deputy Majority Leader Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings.
The document further links the alleged decision to return the money to the Minority’s position on the vetting of three Supreme Court nominees, Justice Sophia Rosetta Oduokuwa Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and Justice Anthony Forson Jnr.
It purportedly states that, following the Minority’s decision not to participate in that vetting, Mrs Appiagyei considered it “totally unthinkable” to accept any gift associated with the nominees and said it was not her intention to extort money from them.
The purported memo concludes by asking that the GH¢70,000 be returned to the Majority Chief Whip and indicates that Mr Afenyo-Markin had also returned his share.
The Minority, however, says the document is fake, with reports that copies circulating on social media contain what the caucus considers to be fabricated stamps.
The OSP’s intervention, however, shifts the controversy beyond the question of whether the purported memorandum is genuine. The Office says its preliminary investigation will examine three central issues: whether the document is genuine, where the alleged GH¢70,000 came from, and what the money was intended for.
The OSP also said the matter had to be considered in light of the constitutional importance of Parliament’s Appointments Committee and the need to protect the integrity of the vetting process.
Its statement further indicated that it is actively investigating allegations of extortion involving Members of Parliament.
For now, however, the competing positions remain stark. The OSP’s investigation will therefore have to establish not only whether the document is authentic, but also whether the alleged payment existed in the first place, who provided or allocated it, and what purpose it was intended to serve.
