Martin Kpebu, a private legal practitioner, has said payments made to Members of Parliament during parliamentary activities did not start today.
According to Martin Kpebu, payments made to Members of Parliament during parliamentary activities are a longstanding practice and have become normal.
He alleged that such payments are routinely made to MPs during vetting exercises, committee meetings, legislative proceedings and parliamentary programmes.
Lawyer Kpebu also recounted parliamentary activities surrounding the passage of budgets and legislation.
Speaking on TV3’s The Key Points on September 6, 2026, Martin Kpebu stated, “These payments didn’t start today. It’s normal… when a person is going for vetting, they usually give money out to their committee members. And it’s not just even their committee alone”.
“Many committee meetings. Many. Money is routinely paid. You are going to pass legislation. Money is paid. They say, okay, take us to this and this conference or out of Accra. You pay a certain number of days,” he added.
“I remember even some years ago, MPs had to go on a tour of a mining company. When they got there, they said they would not get down unless they were first given their envelopes,” he said.
Lawyer Kpebu’s comments come after the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) announced that it had commenced preliminary investigations into an alleged GH¢70,000 payment connected to the work of Parliament’s Appointments Committee.
The OSP disclosed that the investigation follows a purported memorandum circulating in the media, allegedly authored by Mrs Appiagyei and addressed to the Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh.
According to the OSP, they had taken note of the document and were investigating its authenticity, the source of the alleged funds and the purpose for which the money was provided.
The OSP highlighted that the suggested document has raised concerns about the source of the funds and whether they bore the hallmarks of extortion of the nominees.
“Given the constitutional importance of the Appointments Committee of Parliament and the need to safeguard the integrity of the vetting process, and taking into consideration the content of the document to the effect that Hon. Patricia Appiagyei purportedly cast doubt on the source of the alleged funds and that it had the hallmarks of extortion of the nominees, the OSP has commenced preliminary investigation into the veracity of the document, the source of the alleged funds, and the purpose of the alleged funds,” the statement said.
They further disclosed that they have dispatched a communication inviting Hon. Patricia Appiagyei to attend the OSP and assist it with the preliminary investigation.
Meanwhile, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, the Second Deputy Minority Whip, has refuted reports that Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei returned a GH¢70,000 bribe allegedly given to members of Parliament’s Appointments Committee in connection with the vetting of ministerial and Supreme Court nominees.
According to Jerry Ahmed Shaib, there was “no truth whatsoever” in the claims and urged the public to disregard the information circulating.
Speaking to TV3 on Friday, September 4, he disclosed that he had spoken directly with the Deputy Minority Leader.
He disclosed that the Deputy Minority Leader was upset by the reports and did not understand their basis.
Jerry Ahmed Shaib stated, “There is no truth whatsoever in that story. I have spoken particularly to my Deputy Minority Leader who has been very upset with the seeming whatever is going round. She doesn’t even understand it, and she is very upset”.
“She thinks that we should be careful how some of these things are generated,” he added.
“So, I can tell you on authority that I have not dealt with anyone, she has not dealt with anyone, I do not know who is dealing with this and where this is coming from.”
“She had not received any money from anyone, and she does not know where this is coming from with a certain signature of hers.”
Watch the video below:
Alleged GHS70K Vetting Bribery: It is normal for committee members to be given money. – Martin Kpebu, private legal practitioner#TheKeyPoints #TV3GH pic.twitter.com/F2JmcQvjlY
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) September 6, 2026
@ghnow_ Hon Ewurabena Aubynn donates chicks to Ablekuma North Poulty Farmers #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – NDCMUSICHQ
