Accra, Ghana//-Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei says she has rejected GH¢70,000 sent to her by the Majority Chief Whip, saying she does not want to personally benefit from a parliamentary process involving the vetting of members of the governing side’s leadership.
The Asokwa MP said she was particularly uncomfortable accepting the money because she had not been informed about its source and did not want to receive any financial benefit connected to the vetting of Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Deputy Majority Leader Zanetor Agyemang Rawlings.
In a memorandum dated September 2 and addressed to Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh, with Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin copied, Mrs Appiagyei directed that the money be returned to the Majority Chief Whip.
“It is with regret that I return the amount of seventy thousand cedis (GH¢70,000.00) allocated to me as an advance of money from the Majority Chief Whip of Parliament of Ghana. 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 stated.
Mrs Appiagyei said her decision was also influenced by the Minority Caucus’ position on the vetting process involving three Supreme Court nominees.
“It is also not my intention to extort any money from any of the above judges,” she added.
She reaffirmed her support for the Minority Caucus’ position and said her decision was consistent with that of Mr Afenyo-Markin, who had also returned his share of the money.
‘I don’t want to benefit personally’
Mrs Appiagyei’s decision comes against the backdrop of the Minority Caucus’ refusal to participate in the vetting of three Supreme Court nominees after objecting to the procedure adopted by the Parliamentary Appointments Committee.
The nominees are Justice Sophia Rosetta Oduokuwa Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and Justice Anthony Forson Jnr.
The Minority walked out of the proceedings on August 27, arguing that the nominees had been scheduled for vetting without sufficient notice.
However, Mrs Appiagyei’s memorandum indicates that her objection goes beyond the treatment of the Supreme Court nominees. She specifically cited her unwillingness to receive money connected to a parliamentary process involving members of the Majority leadership.
Minority protests vetting procedure
Before the Minority members walked out of the Appointments Committee sitting, Mr Afenyo-Markin challenged the procedure adopted by the committee’s leadership.
“The procedure that has been adopted is at variance with the orders of the House. How can you ask us to vet Supreme Court judges with three days’ notice?” he queried.
He argued that established parliamentary practice required sufficient notice before nominees were vetted.
“The standard practice is to give fourteen days’ notice, advertise in the newspapers before the vetting is done,” he said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin also cited concerns previously raised by then Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson during a similar situation involving the vetting of Supreme Court nominees after short notice had been given.
Addressing the nominees before the walkout, Mr Afenyo-Markin stressed that the Minority’s objection was to the process rather than the individuals nominated.
“To the nominees, we are not against your nomination; we are against the procedure, and we cannot be part of this,” he said.
He was subsequently followed by other Minority members of the committee as they withdrew from the proceedings.
Mrs Appiagyei’s return of the GH¢70,000 therefore reflects both her concern about the source of the money and her decision not to personally benefit from a parliamentary process in which the Minority has formally raised objections.
