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Former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ade Coker, has dismissed the bribery allegations made by social media activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor against the Appointments Committee as “frivolous,” calling them unfounded and disruptive to the ongoing parliamentary proceedings.
Coker’s strong rebuke came after the Appointments Committee’s vetting process was temporarily paused to address the allegations raised by Barker-Vormawor.
The social media activist had accused the committee of requesting bribes from ministerial appointees in exchange for their approval. The allegations surfaced just before the vetting of Defence Minister-Designate Dr. Omane Boamah.
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Barker-Vormawor had shared his concerns on Facebook, suggesting that ministerial appointees were being forced to pay bribes to secure their positions. His post read: “So, all the money the ministerial appointees are being asked to pay to the Appointments Committee just to get approved, is that not affected by ORAL? Strange Republic.”
In his response to the allegations, Coker vehemently rejected them, labelling the accusations as “frivolous.” Speaking to the media in Parliament, he expressed his frustration over the delay caused by the allegations. “We’ve been here for over two hours on this frivolous accusation. I call it frivolous—it’s a frivolous accusation,” he stated. Coker also emphasised that the vetting process must proceed without being derailed by baseless claims.
Furthermore, Coker clarified that the Clerk of Parliament had invited Barker-Vormawor to provide concrete evidence of his allegations.
He added that the vetting process would continue and that Barker-Vormawor should address his accusations through proper channels, including the Privileges Committee. “They’ve invited the gentleman to come and deal with him; that’s all. Deal with the person. Privileges Committees are there, but the process must go on,” Coker insisted.
Despite Coker’s dismissal of the allegations, Barker-Vormawor remained defiant and stood by his claims. He responded on Facebook, expressing his willingness to appear before the Appointments Committee to present evidence of the bribery allegations.
The public exchange highlights a tense moment in Ghana’s political landscape, as the integrity of parliamentary processes continues to be called into question. Coker’s dismissal of the allegations as frivolous serves as a reminder of the challenges facing the Appointments Committee, while Barker-Vormawor’s persistence underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in governance.
