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Legal Practitioner Oliver Barker-Vormawor To Appear Before Parliament’s Appointments Committee Over Bribery Allegations

The allegations have sparked tension within the committee, particularly among Minority members, who argue that their reputation has been tarnished. The Minority Chief Whip insisted that the vetting process should not proceed until the matter is resolved, stating, “Our reputation is at stake. We should not continue with today’s vetting.” This disagreement led to a temporary halt in the vetting process on Tuesday.

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Private legal practitioner Oliver Barker-Vormawor is set to appear before Parliament’s Appointments Committee today, Wednesday, January 29, 2025, to address allegations he made that committee members solicit bribes from ministerial nominees in exchange for approval. The summons follows a Facebook post by Barker-Vormawor on Friday, January 24, in which he accused some members of the committee of demanding money from nominees to secure their approval.

The Appointments Committee has strongly denied the allegations, with its Chairman, Bernard Ahiafor, demanding that Barker-Vormawor provide evidence to substantiate his claims. During the committee’s sitting on Tuesday, January 28, Ahiafor stated, “We invite Oliver Barker-Vormawor to appear before the Committee tomorrow at noon to provide evidence on whether the vetting Committee or any member demanded money before vetting or approval.”

The allegations have sparked tension within the committee, particularly among Minority members, who argue that their reputation has been tarnished. The Minority Chief Whip insisted that the vetting process should not proceed until the matter is resolved, stating, “Our reputation is at stake. We should not continue with today’s vetting.” This disagreement led to a temporary halt in the vetting process on Tuesday.

In contrast, Majority members of the committee advocated for the vetting process to continue while the allegations are addressed. They argued that Parliament should not be incapacitated by unsubstantiated claims. Despite the controversy, the committee proceeded with the vetting of Defence Minister-designate Dr. Omane Boamah on Tuesday.

Barker-Vormawor has confirmed that he will honour the invitation to appear before the committee. In a tweet on Tuesday, he expressed his willingness to cooperate, stating, “This is how a democracy improves. I look forward to appearing before the Appointments Committee tomorrow. Thank you.”

The legal practitioner’s appearance before the committee is expected to provide clarity on the allegations and determine whether there is any merit to the claims. The outcome of this hearing could have significant implications for the integrity of the parliamentary vetting process and public trust in Ghana’s democratic institutions.

The incident has reignited debates about transparency and accountability within Ghana’s political system, particularly regarding the appointment of public officials. As Barker-Vormawor prepares to present his case, all eyes will be on the Appointments Committee to see how it handles the allegations and whether it can restore confidence in its processes.

The hearing is scheduled to take place at noon today, and its proceedings will be closely monitored by the public, civil society organizations, and stakeholders in Ghana’s governance landscape.

Source: GhanaFeed.Com

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