Speaker Bagbin and Former Auditor-General Back OSP Probe into Alleged GH¢70,000 Parliamentary Payment

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin and former Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo have officially backed an investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) into a controversial GH¢70,000 payment allegation. The probe centers on a disputed memorandum reportedly linked to Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei, concerning funds allegedly involved in the parliamentary vetting of ministerial and Supreme Court nominees. Speaker Bagbin emphasized Parliament’s full readiness to cooperate with investigative authorities to establish the document's authenticity, warning that any fabrication of official records would be a serious affront to public trust in parliamentary processes.

The investigation follows a firm denial by Patricia Appiagyei, who maintains that she has no involvement with the memorandum or the purported funds. Supporting the OSP’s intervention, Daniel Yaw Domelevo called for a forensic examination of the signature and document to resolve the conflicting claims. Domelevo further raised systemic concerns, questioning why any payments for parliamentary duties—if they existed—would originate from the Presidency rather than Parliament’s own budget. He argued that an independent inquiry is essential to clarify whether such allowances are legitimate or constitute an ethical breach of the separation of powers.

Adding a layer of complexity to the scandal, private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu alleged that such payments to Members of Parliament are not isolated incidents but rather a "longstanding practice." Speaking on TV3, Kpebu claimed that monetary disbursements are routinely made to MPs during vetting exercises, committee meetings, and other legislative proceedings. While Kpebu’s comments suggest a broader culture of internal payments, others have expressed skepticism regarding the investigative process itself. NPP Communications Team member Kwasi Kwarteng voiced doubts about the OSP’s reliability in handling this specific case, calling for additional state institutions to conduct parallel probes to ensure a comprehensive outcome.

As the OSP begins its preliminary investigations, the outcome remains pivotal for the integrity of the current parliamentary term under the administration of President John Mahama. The Speaker has urged the public and the media to exercise caution and avoid premature conclusions until the OSP completes its verification of the facts. The resolution of this case is expected to set a significant precedent regarding the financial transparency of parliamentary committees and the scrutiny of executive-legislative financial interactions in Ghana.