Appointments Committee To Summon Barker-Vormawor Over Bribery Claims, Sitting Brought To A Halt
- The Appointments Committee of Parliament plans to summon activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor
- Oliver Barker-Vormawor suggested that ministerial nominees were making payments to the committee to guarantee their approval
- Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, called the accusations baseless and served notice of the intended summons
The Appointments Committee of Parliament plans to summon activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor to appear before it following allegations of bribery levelled against committee members.
The claims, which have stirred significant public interest, were made ahead of the vetting session for Defence Minister-designate Dr Omane Boamah, held on Tuesday, January 28.

Source: Facebook
Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, called the accusations baseless.
Barker-Vormawor has suggested that ministerial nominees were making payments to the committee to guarantee their approval.
“I, Bernard Ahiafor, Chairman of the Committee and 1st Deputy Speaker of Parliament, and the committee members do not demand money from nominees before vetting them."
The committee subsequently suspended the vetting temporarily, largely based on agitations from its minority members.

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The Defence Minister-designate, Dr Omane Boamah, was set to appear before the committee.
Reacting on Facebook, Barker-Vormawor said he was ready to face the committee.
"This is how a Democracy improves. I look forward to appearing before the Appointments Committee tomorrow."
Commenting on the potential summons, Timothy Selikem Donkor, a lawyer, reminded that unless a summon is served, a person cannot be deemed to have been summoned.
"The power is vested in parliament as a whole unless expressly delegated to a committee. It is hereby contended that no such delegation of powers has happened."
The lawyer also noted that it would be fair that Barker-Vormawor is given reasonable notice of invitation.
Barker-Vormawor's legal woes
Barker-Vormawor has been facing treason felony charges which have been described by critics as trumped up.
He has been standing trial since September 1, 2022, for saying he would stage a coup if the E-Levy was passed. He made the post after a cake was shaped to write the word "E-Levy". Barker-Vormawor made the post at the height of a fierce public backlash over the cake.

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If found guilty, he could be jailed for life or face capital punishment.
Most recently, Barker-Vormawor was arrested on September 23, 2024, for his involvement in the September 21 and 22 protests in Accra.
Ghana police under fire for rights abuses
YEN.com.gh reported that police have been criticised for their handling of the anti-illegal mining protestors.
President John Mahama was among the notable persons and groups who described the police conduct as heavy-handed and an abuse of human rights.
Over 50 persons were arrested and denied access to their lawyers until they were arraigned and remanded for two weeks.
Some of the arrested persons also said police officers assaulted them.
Police justified the arrests, saying the protestors sought to disturb the peace and impede traffic at the 37 intersections. Charges against some of them have since been dropped.
Proofread by Samuel Gitonga, Copy Editor at YEN.com.gh
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Source: YEN.com.gh