Minority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo-Markin has dismissed as “fake” a purported memo circulating in the media and on social media, which allegedly shows his deputy, Patricia Appiagyei, rejecting GH¢70,000 purportedly allocated to influence her during recent parliamentary consideration of ministerial and Supreme Court nominees.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin told Graphic Online’s Parliamentary Correspondent, Nana Konadu Agyeman, that he had not received or been copied on any such memorandum.
The purported memo, reportedly dated September 2, 2026, and allegedly copied to Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh, claimed that Ms Appiagyei had rejected the money because she did not know its source.
Ms Appiagyei, the Member of Parliament for Asokwa in the Ashanti Region and Deputy Minority Leader, had not publicly commented on the reports as of Friday morning.
Efforts by Kumasi Mail to reach Patricia Appiagyei member of Parliament for the Asokwa Constituency on the memo alleging rejection of GH¢70,000 money for comment were unsuccessful.
The reports emerged amid controversy over the Minority Caucus’ decision to boycott the August 27, 2026, vetting of three Supreme Court nominees.
Minority boycott
The Minority Caucus walked out of the vetting proceedings after raising objections to what it described as a rushed and compressed timetable that did not allow adequate time for parliamentary scrutiny and public participation.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin argued that the nominations had been brought before Parliament on a Monday and called for the process to be suspended to allow the required 14-day period.
“These nominations came to the House on Monday. Let us reason together and let us be seen as being consistent with our political views,” he said.
“If you want to follow the precedent, please suspend today’s sitting, properly put out the advert as you requested when you were in opposition, and let us wait for the 14 days.”
He also argued that there was no emergency requiring the appointments to be expedited because the Supreme Court already had a full complement of justices.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin subsequently led Minority members of the committee out of the proceedings after raising nine procedural objections.
Committee rejects objections
The committee chairperson, Bernard Ahiafor, rejected the Minority’s preliminary objections, describing them as “flimsy,” “hollow” and “baseless.”
Mr. Ahiafor said members dissatisfied with a decision of the House were required to use the procedures provided under Parliament’s Standing Orders to seek a reversal.
“If you are aggrieved by the decision of the House, the method available for you to reverse that decision is contained in our own Standing Orders,” he said.
He maintained that he would not preside over the committee and simultaneously seek to vary the orders, directions or decisions taken by the full House at plenary.
The controversy over the alleged GH¢70,000 memo comes against this backdrop, although Mr. Afenyo-Markin has categorically denied the authenticity of the document.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
