Patricia Appiagyei denies ‘fake’ memo alleging she returned GH¢70,000 vetting money
By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi/ Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada
September 4, 2026
Deputy Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Patricia Appiagyei, has denied the authenticity of a memorandum circulating in the media which purportedly showed that she had returned GH¢70,000 allegedly linked to Parliament’s recent vetting exercises.
The document, which began circulating on Friday, September 4, claimed that Mrs Appiagyei had rejected GH¢70,000 said to have been allocated to her in connection with the vetting of ministerial and Supreme Court nominees.
However, Mrs Appiagyei has reportedly dismissed the document as “fake.”
According to Graphic Online, the Asokwa MP personally told the newspaper’s Parliamentary Correspondent, Nana Konadu Agyeman, that the alleged memorandum was not genuine.
The development has introduced uncertainty into reports that had earlier suggested the Deputy Minority Leader had returned the money because she was unaware of its source and did not want to personally benefit from parliamentary vetting involving members of the governing Majority.
What the disputed memo alleged
The memorandum circulating online was purportedly dated September 2, 2026, and addressed to Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh, with Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin reportedly copied.
According to several media reports that reproduced its contents, the document claimed Mrs Appiagyei had been given GH¢70,000 as an advance from the Majority Chief Whip but was uncomfortable accepting the money because she did not know its original source.
The alleged memo further claimed that she did not want to receive any financial benefit connected to the vetting of Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Environment Minister Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.
It also purportedly linked the rejection of the money to the Minority Caucus’ decision to boycott the August 27 vetting of three Supreme Court nominees.
However, these claims should be treated as disputed because Mrs Appiagyei has now denied that the memo is authentic.
Background to the controversy
The controversy comes against the backdrop of a confrontation between the Minority Caucus and the leadership of Parliament’s Appointments Committee over the vetting of three Supreme Court nominees.
The nominees were Justice Sophia Rosetta Oduokuwa Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and Justice Anthony Forson Jnr.
The Minority Caucus walked out of the proceedings on August 27 after raising objections to the procedure and the short notice given for the exercise.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin argued that the process did not provide sufficient time for parliamentary scrutiny and referred to what he described as the established practice of giving longer notice before such vetting exercises.
He specifically argued that the standard practice was to provide 14 days’ notice and advertise the nominations in newspapers.
The Majority side, however, defended the procedure and rejected the Minority’s objections.
GH¢70,000 controversy remains unclear
The conflicting accounts have now created questions about the origin of the GH¢70,000 claim and the authenticity of the document circulating online.
While several news organisations initially reported the contents of the alleged memorandum, Mrs Appiagyei’s denial means the document cannot be treated as an authentic statement from her unless its authenticity is independently established.
The situation also highlights the importance of verifying documents attributed to public officials, particularly when such documents contain allegations involving money, parliamentary procedures and possible ethical concerns.
For now, the key issue remains whether the alleged memorandum was genuinely authored by Patricia Appiagyei or whether it was fabricated and circulated to create a false impression about her involvement in the matter.
GhanaianNewsCanada will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as further clarification emerges.
