Deputy Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Patricia Appiagyei, has returned GH¢70,000 allocated to her in connection with Parliament’s Appointments Committee, citing concerns over the source of the money and the circumstances surrounding its allocation.
In a memorandum dated September 2, 2026, and addressed to Minority Chief Whip and Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Mrs Appiagyei said the amount was given to her as an advance from the Majority Chief Whip.
She, however, said she was uncomfortable accepting the money because she did not know where it originated.
“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.
The Asokwa MP also said she did not want to derive any financial benefit from the vetting of members of the Majority Caucus, specifically mentioning Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.
“I do not want to enjoy any financial benefit under any circumstances to vet our own colleagues in leadership from the other side, being either Hon. Mahama Ayariga or Hon. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings,” she wrote.
Mrs Appiagyei further linked her decision to the Minority Caucus’ protest and subsequent non-participation in the vetting of three Supreme Court nominees — Justice Sophia Rosetta Oduokuwa Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and Justice Anthony Forson Jnr.
According to her, having taken a principled position against participating in the exercise, accepting a financial benefit associated with the process would be inconsistent with that position.
“Due to the Minority’s protest and non-participation in the vetting of the three Judges… on a matter of principle, I consider it totally unthinkable that I should enjoy any gift presented by any of the above judges,” she stated.
She added that accepting the money should not be interpreted as an attempt to demand or benefit improperly from the nominees.
“It is also not my intention to extort any money from any of the above judges,” she said.
The Deputy Minority Leader said she was also returning the money in support of the decision by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to return his share of the allocation.
She therefore instructed that the GH¢70,000 be sent back to the Majority Chief Whip, together with the reasons for her decision.
“I humbly return the amount of seventy thousand cedis (GHS70,000.00) to be sent back to the Chief Whip of the Majority Caucus in Parliament,” she wrote.
Mrs Appiagyei concluded by reaffirming her commitment to the position of the Minority Caucus.
Her decision comes amid growing attention to the GH¢70,000 allocation and questions over its purpose and source, with the Asokwa MP’s memorandum explicitly stating that she was unaware of where the funds originated.
