Social activist and private legal practitioner Oliver Barker-Vormawor has found himself at the center of a storm. The Appointments Committee of Parliament has officially summoned him to appear on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, to back up some pretty serious allegations.
It all started on Friday, January 24, when Barker-Vormawor took to social media, accusing members of the Appointments Committee of asking ministerial appointees to pay money in exchange for their approval. He raised concerns about whether these alleged transactions were under investigation by the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) Committee, which probes corruption in the country.
Barker-Vormawor’s post read: “So all the monies the ministerial appointees are being asked to pay to the Appointments Committee just to get approved, are those ones not affected by ORAL? Strange Republic.”
The allegations quickly drew attention, and during a committee sitting on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, the first Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Vetting Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, responded strongly.
Ahiafor condemned Barker-Vormawor’s comments, calling them reckless and unfounded. He also refuted the bribery claims, asserting that neither he nor any committee members had ever asked for money from nominees. Ahiafor expressed his willingness to be investigated by the ORAL Committee to clear his name.
Ahiafor stated: “This morning, instead of starting vetting at least by 10 o’clock, we were called into a conclave to deliberate on this issue. We need to stop certain attitudes. Therefore, I, Bernard Ahiafor, First Deputy Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament and the Chairman of the Vetting Committee, want to place it on record that neither I nor the committee members demand money from any nominee before vetting and approval.”
Ahiafor further directed that Oliver Barker-Vormawor be invited to appear before the committee at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, to present evidence that supports his bribery allegations.
He also warned that if Barker-Vormawor failed to appear, the committee would use its powers under Article 103 of the Constitution and Standing Order 13 (4) to take further action.
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