GH¢70,000 MEMO BOMBSHELL: Speaker Backs OSP Probe Into Patricia Appiagyei Allegation

Bagbin demands answers as Parliament opens its doors to investigators over controversial memo — fabricated document or explosive truth?

The controversy surrounding the alleged GH¢70,000 payment linked to the vetting of ministerial and Supreme Court nominees has taken a dramatic turn, with the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, throwing his full support behind an investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

The development follows the circulation of a controversial memorandum purportedly authored by Asokwa MP and Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei, alleging that she received and subsequently returned GH¢70,000 connected to the work of Parliament’s Appointments Committee.

But there is a major twist.

Appiagyei has denied authoring the document and described it as fake. The OSP has nevertheless opened a preliminary investigation to establish whether the document is genuine, where the alleged money came from and what purpose it was intended to serve.

Speaker Says: Investigate Everything

Speaker Bagbin has now made it clear that Parliament has nothing to hide.

In a statement issued on September 5, Parliament said the Speaker welcomed the OSP’s investigation and urged the anti-corruption agency to pursue the matter thoroughly and expeditiously.

The investigation, according to the Speaker, must establish both the authenticity of the disputed memorandum and the truth or otherwise of the allegations contained in it.

This means investigators are expected to follow the evidence wherever it leads — whether the allegations turn out to be genuine or the entire memo is ultimately exposed as a fabrication.

What Is the GH¢70,000 Controversy About?

The disputed memo allegedly claimed that Patricia Appiagyei had returned GH¢70,000 said to have been allocated to her as an advance from the Majority Chief Whip in connection with the vetting of two ministerial nominees and three Supreme Court nominees.

The purported document also raised questions about the source and purpose of the money and suggested concerns over whether such payments could create the appearance of improper financial inducement during parliamentary vetting.

The allegations have triggered significant public interest because of the constitutional importance of Parliament’s Appointments Committee.

Appiagyei: “I Did Not Write It”

Despite the contents of the document, Appiagyei has categorically rejected the memo.

In a statement from her office, she said she did not write, authorise or circulate the document and described it as fake.

That denial has transformed the controversy into two major questions:

Did the alleged GH¢70,000 payment actually exist?

And if the memo is fake, who created it and why?

The OSP has indicated that both issues fall within the scope of its preliminary investigation.

Speaker: If It Is Fake, Find the Culprits

Speaker Bagbin has gone further, warning that the matter should not end simply because investigators establish that the document was fabricated.

If the investigation confirms that the memo was falsely attributed to Appiagyei, the Speaker wants the relevant authorities to identify the individuals behind its creation and circulation.

Parliament has indicated that the Cyber Security Authority and other relevant law-enforcement agencies could be enlisted to help identify those responsible if evidence establishes that the document was fabricated.

Parliament Warns Against Attacks on Its Integrity

The Speaker says the controversy goes beyond one MP or one disputed document.

According to Parliament, deliberately creating and circulating false documents purporting to originate from MPs or parliamentary offices would constitute a serious attack on the integrity and reputation of Parliament.

The institution therefore wants the matter resolved conclusively.

If the allegations are true, the facts must come out.

If the document is fake, the people behind it must also be exposed.

OSP Already Has Appiagyei in Its Sights

The OSP has confirmed that it has invited Patricia Appiagyei to assist with its preliminary investigation.

The anti-corruption agency says its probe is examining three critical issues:

• The authenticity of the disputed memorandum;
• The source of the alleged GH¢70,000; and
• The purpose for which the money was allegedly provided.

The OSP has also stated that it is actively investigating allegations of extortion involving Members of Parliament.

Bagbin: Let the Facts Speak

For now, Parliament says it has not independently verified the authenticity of the memo and will not prejudge the competing claims.

The Speaker is therefore urging the public and the media to exercise caution and avoid drawing definitive conclusions before investigators establish the facts.

But his message is unmistakable:

Investigate it. Establish the truth. And if anyone broke the law, let the law take its course.

The Big Questions Remain

As the OSP probe gathers momentum, attention is now fixed on what investigators will uncover.

Was the GH¢70,000 payment real?

Was the controversial memo genuinely authored by Patricia Appiagyei?

Or was the document deliberately fabricated and circulated to damage her reputation and undermine confidence in Parliament?