I never refused to cooperate with police – Barker-Vormawor denies AG’s claim

Convener for #FixTheCountry Movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has denied claims that he refuses to cooperate with the police in investigations over his coup charges as suggested by the Attorney General.

The Attorney General’s affidavit filed on 9 March, in opposition to his bail application, among other things, said the youth activist has not been cooperating with police investigations and refused to comply with a search warrant.

There are also claims that the accused has no permanent place of abode and will therefore not make himself available should he be granted bail.

However, in a sharp response to the AG’s accusations, Mr Barker-Vormawor insists upon being presented with the search warrant and personally leading the police to conduct a thorough search at his home and all the other places mentioned in the warrant.

Regarding his mobile phone, he explained that when he received the warrant, his lawyers wrote to the Inspector General of Police, imploring him to put in place the necessary arrangements for the search to be conducted in accordance with the warrant.

He added that he has since filed a case challenging the validity of the said search warrant.

The phone, according to him, remains in the custody of the police.

Portions of the AG’s documents also alleged that two different women claimed to be the wife of the youth activist.

Commenting on that, Mr Barker-Vormawor insists he has only one wife who lives and works in Ghana.

He has promised to submit himself to the court if granted bail.

“I will make myself readily available to go through the present criminal proceedings and, as I have done, continue to fully cooperate with any investigations which this criminal process may entail,” he assured.

Background

The accused was arrested on 11 February by the Tema Regional Police Command following a post he allegedly made on social media to the effect that he would stage a coup himself if Parliament passed the controversial Electronic Levy (E-Levy) Bill.

“The post contained a clear statement of intent with a possible will to execute a coup in his declaration of intent to subvert the constitution of the Republic of Ghana,” the police statement dated 12 February 2022, signed by the Director-General of Public Affairs, DCOP Kwesi Ofori said.

After his post, a section of Ghanaians who found his comments distasteful poured out on social media to call the Ghana Police Service to arrest him.

He was arraigned on Monday, 14 February 2022, and has been on remand since his first Ashaiman District court appearance.

Mr Barker-Vormawor has been charged with treason felony, but he pleaded not guilty.

The High Court in Tema has adjourned the bail application hearing to 14 March 2022.