Parliament has called for a thorough investigation into a memorandum circulating on social media that allegedly links a GH¢70,000 payment to the work of the Appointments Committee.
The Parliamentary Service, in a statement signed by its Director of Media Relations, David Sebastian Damoah, said it had taken note of the document, which is purportedly authored by the Deputy Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Patricia Appiagyei.
The document and reports surrounding it have generated public interest, particularly because of claims that the payment was connected to parliamentary proceedings.
However, Parliament said it had not independently verified the authenticity of the memorandum and would not make a determination on the allegations at this stage.
According to the statement, Parliament considers any allegation involving payments allegedly connected to the work of a parliamentary committee, especially the Appointments Committee, a matter that requires proper scrutiny.
It also expressed concern over the possibility that the document could have been fabricated and falsely attributed to the MP, warning that such conduct could undermine public confidence in Parliament and its processes.
Parliament confirmed that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has commenced investigations into the matter.
The Speaker has welcomed the investigation and urged the OSP to establish the facts surrounding the document, including whether it is authentic and whether the claims contained in it are genuine.
The Parliamentary Service further said it was prepared to cooperate with the OSP and any other competent investigative authority.
Should the document be found to be fabricated, Parliament wants the appropriate authorities to identify those responsible for creating and circulating it. It said the Cyber Security Authority and other law enforcement agencies could be brought in to assist with the investigation where necessary.
