The Second Deputy Minority Whip and Member of Parliament for Weija Gbawe, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has dismissed reports that Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei returned GH¢70,000 allegedly linked to Parliament’s recent vetting exercises. Honourable Shaib described the claim as false and insisted that the purported memorandum circulating in the media did not originate from Honourable Patricia Appiagyei.
The controversy emerged after a document dated began circulating and was purportedly signed by the Deputy Minority Leader, Honourable Patricia Appiagyei claiming that she returned GH¢70,000 said to have been allocated to her in connection with parliamentary vetting.
According to the reported contents of the document, the money was presented as an advance from the Majority Chief Whip, while the purported author questioned its source and expressed reluctance to benefit financially from the vetting of government nominees. However, Honourable Shaib said he personally contacted Honourable Appiagyei after seeing the document and received a firm denial from her.
“There is no truth whatsoever in that story. I have spoken particularly to my Deputy Minority Leader, who has been very upset with the alleged memorandum or whatever that is going around.”
Jerry Ahmed Shai
The Weija Gbawe MP explained that Honourable Appiagyei told him she did not know who produced the document or how her name and purported signature came to be associated with it. He therefore urged caution over the circulation of documents making serious allegations against public officials, particularly when their origins cannot immediately be established.
Honourable Shaib also rejected suggestions that members of the Minority leadership has received special financial benefits because of their positions on Parliament’s Appointments Committee. He explained that his membership of the committee comes through his leadership role under Parliament’s Standing Orders, but insisted that he had not received any such benefit. The Deputy Minority Whip further stated that, based on his direct conversation with Honourable Appiagyei, she had neither received the alleged payment nor returned any money to anyone.
Furthermore, he added that he has attempted to contact other members of the Minority leadership after the document emerged but had not been able to reach all of them immediately. Honourable Shaib said his decision to address the matter publicly is therefore intended to provide clarity after speaking directly with the Deputy Minority Leader.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has commenced a preliminary investigation into the disputed GH¢70,000 allegation, including the authenticity of the purported memorandum and the source and intended purpose of the money. The OSP has also invited Honourable Appiagyei to assist with its inquiries as it examines the circumstances surrounding the document and the alleged payment.
Minority Urges Inquiry Into Claims Affecting Parliament’s Reputation
The Second Deputy Minority Whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, also backed calls for the disputed GH¢70,000 allegation involving Parliament’s Appointments Committee to be properly investigated to protect the reputation of the legislature.
The Member of Parliament for Weija Gbawe argued that allegations supported by documents of uncertain origin could damage public confidence in Parliament if they are allowed to circulate without verification. Honourable Shaib added that the controversy should concern everyone because claims of financial inducement involving legislators can affect how Ghanaians perceive the work of Parliament and its committees.
The document reportedly linked the money to the vetting of Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, Deputy Majority Leader Zanetor Agyemang Rawlings and three Supreme Court nominees. He explained that the Deputy Minority Leader had also indicated that she had not authored the memorandum and did not know how it came to be associated with her.
The Weija Gbawe MP suggested that an inquiry could help establish the facts and determine the source of the document, rather than allowing competing claims to dominate public discussion. Honourable Shaib further insisted that the Minority Caucus would not approve any secret payment to an individual member without the knowledge of the caucus.
He said the caucus has a responsibility to address allegations that could undermine its credibility, especially when such claims involve its leadership or parliamentary proceedings. The MP also recalled previous controversy surrounding allegations of money changing hands during parliamentary vetting, noting that similar claims had the potential to revive questions about the integrity of the appointments process.
The development has created conflicting accounts, with reports initially presenting the purported memo as evidence that the money had been returned, while Honourable Appiagyei and Mr Shaib have disputed its authenticity.
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