Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Department of Political Science, Dr Joshua Ebuntie Zaato, has called on the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to publish the findings of its investigation into an alleged GH¢70,000 payment reportedly offered to the Deputy Minority Leader and Asokwa Member of Parliament, Patricia Appiagyei.
The alleged payment is said to be linked to the vetting of two ministerial nominees and three Supreme Court nominees.
The call follows a purported memorandum circulating in the media, allegedly authored by Mrs Appiagyei and addressed to the Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh.
According to the document, Mrs Appiagyei returned GH¢70,000 allegedly given to her as an advance by the Majority Chief Whip through the Minority Chief Whip in connection with the vetting exercise.
Mrs Appiagyei has, however, denied receiving or returning the alleged payment, describing the claims as false and the circulating memorandum as fabricated.
The OSP has subsequently announced that it has commenced preliminary investigations to establish the veracity of the alleged payment and determine its source.
Speaking with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue on Saturday, September 5, Dr Zaato said the investigation should not be conducted behind closed doors, given the serious allegations involved.
“This is not one of the investigations I think the OSP should do and bury it. They must be published,” he said.
Dr Zaato said Mrs Appiagyei’s allegation that an attempt was being made to set her up raised serious questions that required a thorough investigation.
“Patricia Appiagyei alleged that there’s criminality; she said someone is setting her up, and that is a crime. If that is true, how many MPs or powerful men in the House have been set up? I fully support the call for investigations,” he said.
He also called on Parliament to clarify the circumstances surrounding any financial support provided to Members of Parliament who were recalled from recess to participate in the vetting exercise.
Dr Zaato questioned whether monies allocated to MPs for fuel and other expenses associated with their recall could be misconstrued as extortion.
“These things must be done and explained very well by Parliament,” he said.
He also called on Parliament to conduct an independent probe into the matter.
While supporting the OSP’s decision to investigate the matter, Dr Zaato defended Mrs Appiagyei and said he believed her denial of the alleged payment.
“I believe her statement,” he said.
He stressed the need for the investigation to establish the facts and ensure that the outcome was made public to restore confidence in Parliament’s vetting process and address concerns over alleged attempts to influence lawmakers.
