Activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has expressed his readiness to appear before Ghana’s Appointments Committee to back up his claims that some members of the committee demand bribes from ministerial nominees in exchange for approval.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Barker-Vormawor stated, “I look forward to appearing before the committee tomorrow,” ahead of his scheduled appearance on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

The activist’s claims have sparked intense debate on social media and within Parliament, with the Appointments Committee strongly denying the accusations. Barker-Vormawor has alleged that some committee members solicited bribes from nominees seeking approval, a claim that was swiftly rejected by the committee’s leadership.

Bernard Ahiafor, Chairman of the Appointments Committee, addressed the allegations in a press briefing on January 28, calling them unfounded. He firmly stated that neither he nor any committee member had engaged in any such practices.

In response to the allegations, Ahiafor directed the committee’s Clerk to formally invite Barker-Vormawor to appear and provide evidence for his claims. “I am therefore directing the Clerk to the Committee to invite him to appear before the committee tomorrow to substantiate his claims, or we will apply the necessary law,” Ahiafor said.

Barker-Vormawor’s appearance is set to take place amid growing division within Parliament. Some Minority members are calling for the suspension of the vetting process until the matter is resolved, citing concerns that the allegations cast doubt on the integrity of the committee’s work.

However, other members, such as South Dayi MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, have warned against halting the vetting process, arguing that it could set a dangerous precedent and disrupt government operations.

In his post, Barker-Vormawor emphasized that confronting such issues is vital for the strengthening of Ghana’s democracy. “This is how a democracy improves,” he added.

Source:TheDotNews