Parliament has called for a thorough investigation into a memorandum circulating on social media that allegedly links Deputy Minority Leader and Asokwa MP, Patricia Appiagyei, to the return of GH¢70,000.
In a statement issued by the Parliamentary Service and signed by the Director of Media Relations, David Sebastian Damoah, Parliament said it had taken note of the document and the public interest generated by its contents.
The memorandum is purported to have been authored by Patricia Appiagyei and reportedly concerns the alleged return of GH¢70,000 in connection with the work of a parliamentary committee.
However, subsequent reports have questioned the authenticity of the document, while Appiagyei has categorically denied authoring it and rejected the allegations attributed to her.
Parliament said it had not independently verified the authenticity of the memorandum and would therefore not make any determination on the competing claims at this stage.
The institution nevertheless described the matter as serious, particularly because allegations involving payments connected to the work of a parliamentary committee could have implications for public confidence in Parliament and its processes.
According to Parliament, the possibility that an official-looking document could have been fabricated and falsely attributed to a sitting Member of Parliament is equally concerning.
The statement disclosed that Parliament had taken note of reports that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) had commenced investigations into the matter.
The Rt. Hon. Speaker has welcomed the investigation and urged the OSP to establish the facts thoroughly and expeditiously.
The investigation, Parliament said, should determine not only whether the memorandum is authentic but also the truth or otherwise of the claims contained in it.
Parliament further assured the OSP and any other competent investigative authority of its readiness to provide the necessary cooperation to facilitate the lawful investigation.
It said that if the probe establishes that the memorandum was fabricated or falsely attributed to the Deputy Minority Leader, the matter should not end with the determination of its falsity.
In such an event, the appropriate investigative authorities are expected to enlist the support of the Cyber Security Authority and other relevant law enforcement agencies to identify those responsible for creating and circulating the document.
Parliament said those found culpable should be held accountable in accordance with the law.
It stressed that the deliberate fabrication and circulation of documents purporting to originate from Members of Parliament or parliamentary offices would constitute a serious threat to the integrity and reputation of the institution.
Parliament therefore urged the public, media organisations and other stakeholders to exercise caution in sharing the memorandum or drawing definitive conclusions from its contents until its authenticity and the circumstances surrounding its circulation have been established.
The institution reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and the integrity of parliamentary processes, including the work of the Appointments Committee.
The Speaker, Parliament said, is determined to ensure that the facts surrounding the GH¢70,000 memorandum are established and that any appropriate legal consequences follow.
By 1960news.com
