”This is how democracy improves” – Oliver Barker affirms his appearance before the Appointments Committee

Activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has confirmed his intent to appear before Parliament’s Appointments Committee following his allegations of bribery within the body.

In a Facebook post, Barker-Vormawor expressed his belief in the democratic process, stating : “This is how a democracy improves. I look forward to appearing before the Appointments Committee tomorrow. Thank you.”

Barker-Vormawor’s comments come after he accused the Appointments Committee of soliciting bribes from ministerial nominees in exchange for their approval.

He further challenged Bernard Ahiafor, the Committee’s chairman and first deputy speaker of Parliament, to submit himself to the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) Committee for questioning over the matter.

In response to these allegations, Mr. Ahiafor has categorically rejected the claims, calling them “baseless and unfounded.”

Addressing the claims on January 28 ahead of the vetting of Defence Minister-designate Dr. Omane Boamah, Ahiafor emphasized that both he and other members of the committee operate with integrity and professionalism.

“I’m ever ready to submit myself to ORAL. We need to stop certain attitudes. So, therefore, I, Bernard Ahiafor, as the chairman of the committee, want to place it on record that I and the committee members don’t demand money from any nominees before vetting and approval,” Ahiafor stated.

Ahiafor further expressed concern about the damage the allegations could cause to the Appointments Committee’s reputation and reiterated his commitment to transparency and accountability in the vetting process.

Following the rebuttal, Ahiafor directed the Clerk of the Committee to formally invite Barker-Vormawor to appear before the body and substantiate his claims.

He stated that should Barker-Vormawor fail to provide evidence, the necessary legal steps would be taken.

“I am directing the clerk to the committee to invite him to appear before the committee tomorrow [Wednesday] to substantiate his claims, or we will apply the necessary law,” Mr. Ahiafor emphasized.

The accusations have sparked calls within the minority National Patriotic Party (NPP) on the Committee for the suspension of the vetting process until Barker-Vormawor is given an opportunity to present his evidence.

The public back-and-forth over the bribery claims highlights the increasing scrutiny of parliamentary processes, particularly regarding appointments to ministerial positions. With growing concerns over transparency and anti-corruption efforts in the country, the outcome of Barker-Vormawor’s upcoming appearance before the Committee is set to draw significant attention.

Ahiafor’s swift rebuttal aims to reassure the public that the vetting process will remain free from corruption or undue influence. As the situation unfolds, all eyes are on the outcome of the committee’s meeting with Barker-Vormawor and the potential impact it may have on the nation’s political landscape.

 

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