Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament, Patricia Appiagyei, has refuted claims of bribery in the vetting process of ministerial nominees, insisting that she has never encountered any such arrangement.

Speaking on PM Express on Joy News on Wednesday, January 29, she dismissed speculation that members of the Appointment Committee receive financial inducements to approve nominees.

“I don’t think I have been exposed to any such arrangement,” she stated firmly.

“I think people circulate a lot, and out of that speculation, when people are given a certain level of treatment, maybe because of certain reasons, people might be lenient towards some nominees, and people believe that is why there have been allegations of bribery. But in reality, it is pure speculation.”

Her comments come amid ongoing public discourse regarding transparency in the vetting process.

When asked whether money had ever been paid or if there had been any attempts to bribe members of the committee, Madam Appiagyei dismissed the notion outright, reiterating that she did not know of such incidents.

She recalled a similar controversy during the tenure of former Appointment Committee Chair, Joe Osei Owusu, which was later proven to be unfounded.

“It happened when Honorable Joe Osei Owusu was there, and eventually, those who made the allegation had to come and apologize to the entire Parliament, admitting that they stepped out of line,” she recounted.

“So I see all of this as mere speculation that continues even after apologies have been made.”

When asked if the committee had ever opened itself up for an independent inquiry into such allegations, she noted that in previous instances, investigations had been initiated to clear any doubts.

“You know, the last time it happened, it was our own colleague who made the allegation, and it was opened up for investigation. Mr. Speaker took interest in that and ensured that it was well investigated,” she explained.

Madam Appiagyei maintained that as far as she was concerned, the vetting process remains fair and free from bribery, and any claims to the contrary are purely speculative.

She stated the importance of maintaining the integrity of Parliament and ensuring that allegations are substantiated with evidence before being propagated.