Former Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo has endorsed the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) decision to investigate allegations surrounding a purported GH¢70,000 payment allegedly offered to Deputy Minority Leader and Asokwa MP, Patricia Appiagyei, in connection with the vetting of ministerial and Supreme Court nominees.
Mr Domelevo said the allegations require an independent investigation to establish the authenticity of the purported memorandum and determine whether the alleged payment actually occurred.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One Saturday, September 5, he said Mrs Appiagyei’s denial should not end the matter, particularly because similar allegations of financial inducements involving Members of Parliament had surfaced in the past.
Also read: GH¢70,000 memo: Parliament demands OSP investigation
He argued that the latest allegation should therefore be subjected to proper scrutiny to establish the facts.
Mr Domelevo urged the OSP to examine the document at the centre of the controversy, including the signature attributed to Mrs Appiagyei, to determine whether she authored the memorandum or whether the signature was forged.
He said the investigation should establish whether someone was deliberately attempting to mislead the public or whether the alleged payment actually took place.
“But it needs to be investigated, and we’ll be sure that somebody is just being mischievous or it actually happened.”
According to Mr Domelevo, the outcome of such an investigation would help settle the competing claims surrounding the purported GH¢70,000 payment.
The former Auditor-General also questioned the appropriateness of the Presidency allegedly making payments to MPs after they had participated in parliamentary vetting exercises.
He said such payments could raise public financial management concerns if they were not provided for under the appropriate budgetary arrangements.
Mr Domelevo argued that any legitimate sitting allowances due to MPs should be paid through Parliament’s budget rather than being sourced from the budget of another government institution.
He consequently urged the OSP to complete its investigation and provide clarity on both the alleged payment and the circumstances surrounding the purported memorandum.
Hon. Patricia Appiagyei has denied receiving or discussing any money in connection with the ministerial vetting process.
The Deputy Minority Leader has also described the purported memorandum alleging that she received GH¢70,000 as fake news.
The OSP’s investigation is expected to establish the authenticity of the document and determine whether the allegations contained in it have any basis.