Parliament says it stands ready to cooperate with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and any other competent investigative authority probing a memorandum circulating on social media, purportedly authored by Deputy Minority Leader and MP for Asokwa, Patricia Appiagyei, on the alleged return of GHC70,000.
In a press release dated September 5, signed by Director of Media Relations David Sebastian Damoah, Parliament said it has taken note of the document and the public interest it has generated, as well as subsequent denials of its authenticity.
According to the statement, Parliament views the matter with serious concern on two fronts, any allegation of payments connected to the work of a Committee of Parliament, particularly the Appointments Committee, which deserves proper scrutiny, and the possibility that a document may have been fabricated and falsely attributed to an MP in a way that undermines confidence in Parliament.
Parliament said it has not independently verified the authenticity of the memo and will not make a determination on the competing claims at this stage.
It confirmed it has taken note of reports that the OSP has commenced investigations, with the Rt. Hon. Speaker welcoming any lawful probe and urging the OSP to pursue the matter thoroughly and expeditiously, including establishing the authenticity of the memo and the veracity of its claims.
Should investigations establish that the memo was fabricated or falsely attributed to the Deputy Minority Leader, the Speaker wants the matter not to end there.
“The appropriate investigative authorities should, in that event, enlist the assistance of the Cyber Security Authority and other relevant law enforcement agencies to identify the person or persons responsible for the creation and circulation of the false document and, where the evidence warrants, bring them to account in accordance with law,” the statement said.
Parliament warned that the fabrication and deliberate circulation of documents purporting to emanate from Members or offices of Parliament would constitute a serious assault on the integrity and reputation of the institution.
In the meantime, it urged the public, the media and stakeholders to exercise caution in sharing the document or drawing definitive conclusions until its authenticity and surrounding circumstances are properly established.
“Parliament reaffirms its commitment to transparency, accountability and the integrity of its processes, including the work of the Appointments Committee,” it added.
