Suspend vetting until bribery allegations are resolved—Minority demands
Members of the Minority on Parliament’s Appointments Committee have called for an immediate suspension of today’s vetting process, demanding that activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor appear before the committee to clarify allegations he has made against members.
Mr. Barker-Vormawor recently claimed that the committee has been soliciting bribes from ministerial nominees in exchange for approval.
The committee has strongly refuted these allegations and raised concerns about integrity and credibility.
The Minority emphasised the urgent need to safeguard the committee’s reputation and the transparency of its processes.
They argue that the allegations have cast a serious shadow over the committee, and continuing the vetting process without addressing the issue could erode public confidence in Parliament’s oversight role.
“The credibility of the Appointments Committee is paramount,” Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh Dompreh stated.
“These allegations, whether true or false, have tainted the Committee’s image. There is no justification for proceeding with the vetting until these claims are thoroughly investigated and substantiated.”
The Minority insists that inviting Mr. Barker-Vormawor to substantiate his allegations is the only way to restore trust in the committee’s work.
They have called on Parliament’s leadership to prioritise resolving the matter swiftly and transparently, warning that failure to act decisively could undermine public trust in the legislative process.
In response to the controversy, the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, categorically dismissed the allegations as baseless.
Speaking on Tuesday, January 28, he stated that neither he nor any members of the committee had engaged in such practices and challenged the activist to provide evidence to support his claims.
To address the issue, Chairman Ahiafor has directed the Clerk of the Committee to formally invite Mr. Barker-Vormawor to appear before the committee.
The activist is expected to present evidence to substantiate his allegations during a scheduled meeting on Wednesday, January 29.