By Sarah Baafi
Private legal practitioner Oliver Barker-Vormawor is set to appear before Parliament’s Appointments Committee today, January 29, 2025, at 10 am to address his allegations of bribery against the committee members. He claims that some members demand monetary inducements from ministerial nominees for their approval. The committee has firmly denied these allegations, labelling them as unfounded and damaging to its integrity.
“I think that we should not continue with today’s vetting,our reputation is at stake” Minority Chief Whip, stated. This occurred on Tuesday January 28,2025 delaying the vetting process.
Chairman of the committee, Bernard Ahiafor emphasized the committee’s commitment to transparency, stating, “I will therefore demand the clerk of the committee to invite Oliver Barker-Vormawor to appear before the committee to provide evidence of the allegations.” The summons follows Barker-Vormawor’s social media post on January 24, where he questioned why such practices were not being pursued by anti-corruption bodies.
The controversy led to a delay in the vetting of Defence Minister-designate Dr. Omane Boamah, as members debated the implications of Barker-Vormawor’s claims. The minority caucus expressed concerns over the committee’s reputation, insisting that vetting should be suspended until the matter is resolved.
Barker-Vormawor has indicated his readiness to substantiate his claims before the committee, asserting that accountability is essential for democracy.
