Deputy Minority Leader returns GH¢70,000 from Majority Chief Whip, questions source

Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei has returned GH¢70,000 described as an “advance” from the Majority Chief Whip, saying she did not know the source of the money and was unwilling to benefit financially from parliamentary vetting.

In a memorandum dated 2 September 2026, the Asokwa MP directed Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh to return the money to the Chief Whip of the Majority Caucus.

“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,” she wrote.

Mrs Appiagyei said her primary reason for returning the money was that she had not been told where it came from.

“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,” the memorandum said.

She also linked her decision to parliamentary vetting involving Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Deputy Majority Leader Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.

Mrs Appiagyei said she did not want to “enjoy any financial benefit” arising from the vetting of the two members of the Majority leadership.

The memorandum also referred to the Minority Caucus’ protest and non-participation in the vetting of three Supreme Court nominees: Justice Sophia Rosetta Oduokuwa Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and Justice Anthony Yeboah Forson Jr.

Mrs Appiagyei said it would be “totally unthinkable” for her to receive any gift presented by the nominees, adding that she had no intention of “extorting” money from them.

The document does not establish that the GH¢70,000 came from any of the nominees. It describes the money only as an advance from the Majority Chief Whip, while Mrs Appiagyei says its original source was not disclosed to her.

The memorandum also does not explain the intended purpose of the payment, how the amount was determined or whether similar sums were allocated to other members involved in the parliamentary process.

Mrs Appiagyei said her action was consistent with the position of Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, whom she said had also returned his share of the money.

“In lieu of the above, and also in support of the Minority Leader’s decision to return his share of the amount sent to him in that respect, I humbly return the amount of seventy thousand cedis,” she wrote.

She reaffirmed her commitment to the position taken by the Minority Caucus.

Read the full memorandum below: