By Bawa Musah | 28 January, 2025
Ghanaian activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor is scheduled to appear before Parliament’s tomorrow to address allegations he made on X (formerly Twitter). He claimed that committee members accepted bribes from ministerial nominees of President John Mahama influencing their vetting and approval processes.
In response, Bernard Ahiavor, the committee’s chairman, has vehemently denied these allegations. He has expressed his willingness to cooperate fully with any investigations and has committed to submitting himself to the Operations Recover All Loot (ORAL) team to ensure transparency and uphold the committee integrity.
This is not the first time Barker-Vormawor has leveled bribery accusations against government officials. In September 2023, he alleged that National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah offered him a $1 million bribe and potential government appointments to cease his activism. The Ministry of National Security refuted these claims, acknowledging meetings with Barker-Vormawor but denying any inducements or threats.
Subsequently, Kan-Dapaah filed a defamation lawsuit against Barker-Vormawor, seeking GH₵10 million in damages.
In October 2024, Barker-Vormawor released a secret recording of a phone call with an individual purported to be a government minister. In the eight-minute recording, the alleged minister proposed a meeting involving the Finance Minister and assured Barker-Vormawor of his safety should he return to Ghana.
The minister also offered to facilitate Barker-Vormawor’s travel arrangements.
The upcoming session before the Appointments Committee has garnered significant public attention, highlighting concerns about corruption and the integrity of governmental processes.
Observers anticipate that Barker-Vormawor will present evidence to substantiate his claims, while committee members are expected to defend their reputations and the committee’s credibility. This confrontation underscores the ongoing challenges Ghana faces in ensuring transparency and accountability within its political institutions.
However, Oliver Barker Vormawor has expressed his readiness to appear before the Appointments Committee on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
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