Lawyers representing Oliver Barker-Vormawor, an activist and organizer of Democracy Hub, have categorically refuted allegations that connect their client to bribery claims involving members of Parliament’s Appointments Committee.
This development follows the Committee’s decision to summon Barker-Vormawor in response to a contentious social media post attributed to him, which suggested that committee members had accepted bribes.
During the hearing before the Appointments Committee on Wednesday, January 29, Barker-Vormawor’s lead attorney, Nana Ato Dadzie, asserted: “The statement is false; it does not originate from Mr. Vormawor. He did not make that post. The statement claims: ‘NDC members on the Appointments Committee receive payments from Mahama’s ministerial nominees prior to their approval, and the Deputy Speaker must present himself for ORAL.’ This is not from Mr. Vormawor.”
Nevertheless, the legal team clarified that a different post on Barker-Vormawor’s Facebook page, which accused all committee members of accepting bribes before the vetting process, was not intended to defame the committee members.
According to his attorney, the post was merely intended to inform the public about certain reports that had come to his attention.
Allegations Generate Public Discourse
The accusations, which ignited public discussion, emerged just before the vetting of Defence Minister-designate Dr. Edward Omane Boamah on January 28.
Bernard Ahiafor, Chairman of the Appointments Committee and 1st Deputy Speaker of Parliament, firmly dismissed the allegations, labeling them as unfounded and harmful to the integrity of the vetting process.
Mr. Ahiafor subsequently instructed the Clerk of the Committee to formally summon Barker-Vormawor to present evidence supporting his claims during a session scheduled for Wednesday, January 29.