Lawyer and political activist, Osagyefo Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor, appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament to clarify concerns arising from a social media post he made, which allegedly accused certain members of the committee of taking money from nominees.
His appearance before the committee followed public apprehension and misreporting regarding the post, which he categorically disassociated himself from. Barker-Vormawor used the platform to clarify his stance, provide context to his remarks, and render an apology for any misinterpretations.
Barker-Vormawor began his address by emphasizing his deep respect for the Appointments Committee and its constitutional role in vetting individuals for high office.
He acknowledged the importance of the vetting process and expressed regret that the controversy surrounding his post had overshadowed the proceedings of Dr. Omane Boamah’s vetting. He added;
“Yesterday [Tuesday], I watched the proceedings and was eagerly looking forward to the vetting of Dr. Omane Boamah, a man of enormous integrity and respect. I want to extend my apologies to him that his vetting process became the subject of conversations about an alleged post.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor
Barker-Vormawor categorically denied authorship of the statements that were widely attributed to him, stating;
“As has been said categorically, those statements were not mine. At no point did I accuse the chair of this committee or members of the NDC for having asked for or to be given money or to submit themselves to [their] own.’’
Oliver Barker-Vormawor
He went on to quote his previous comments praising the committee’s chairman for his leadership. He eulogized;
“It is in fact on record that I’ve praised the chair of this committee for his leadership of the committee during the ministerial vetting. And these were my comments, sir: ‘May God grant us all the serenity and maturity of Hon. Ahiahor Bernard, for in the face of grief, immaturity, and tantrums, he retains his dignity. To those of you who say he’s weak for refusing to engage, I think that he has shown that strength is not loud, it’s patience and deliberate.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor
Disassociation from Alleged Facebook Post
The activist further distanced himself from a Facebook post that was widely circulated under the name “NPP Projects Bureau.” He pointed out;
”In fact, there’s evidence that four days ago, when the post appeared, I commented on it as being fake. The same post found its way into platforms of various lawyers, and repeatedly, I dissuaded myself from those comments and said that they were fake.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor
He indicated his willingness to provide evidence to the committee to substantiate his claim that he had denounced the post prior to being summoned.
Moreover, Barker-Vormawor also took the opportunity to clarify his political ideology, refuting claims that he was a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He stated;
“I have not been a member of the NDC in the past, and it is my hope that my ideology, which has always been stated, remains clear. I have always voted consistently for the CPP, and I will continue to do so.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor
Addressing the Appointment Committee, he explained that his post was not intended to allege corruption among its members but was meant to highlight a broader conversation about allegations that often arise regarding the vetting process. He admitted;
“Unfortunately, perhaps in the gift of the gab, I made the post in a manner that suggests that I was accusing specific members of this committee. To this end, I apologize.”
“If you look at the statement that was made and shared with me, you’d see that the post has been edited several times as I tried to convey the right tone.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor
Apology and Retraction
Following persistent questioning from the committee, Barker-Vormawor eventually rendered an unqualified apology for any unintended implications of his post. He stated;
“Mr. Chair, I am saying here clearly that my post was not intended to disparage members of the committee, and I have not intended to say that members of this committee have received or demanded bribes from various individuals. At no point was my statement intended to communicate that.’’
“The reason why I have left the post on and not deleted it – in fact, I did contemplate it – was because I saw that the words had been twisted, and it became imperative for me to maintain the post in its original form so that if I was questioned on it, reference could be made to verify it.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor
After deliberations, the committee directed him to issue a formal disclaimer disassociating himself from the allegations and the controversial post. Barker-Vormawor complied;
“Mr. Chair, I am happy to issue a disclaimer. As the conversation has indicated and clarity has been brought to it, I am happy to proceed as directed.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor
The committee further requested copies of his disclaimer for verification, to which he responded affirmatively.
“Most grateful, I reiterate categorically that I know nothing about the statements that appeared on an ‘NPP Projects Bureau’ Facebook account. I do not know the source of it. Thank you very much.’’
Oliver Barker-Vormawor
Oliver Barker-Vormawor’s appearance before the Appointments Committee sought to clarify his social media post and dispel accusations of corruption against committee members.
While he maintained that his words were taken out of context, he ultimately rendered an apology and committed to issuing a formal disclaimer. His testimony underscored the broader concerns about misrepresentation and the impact of social media discourse on public perception.
