Renowned activist Osagyefo Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor has called for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, citing horrifying allegations of political persecution and human rights abuses under the previous NPP’s administration.
His revelations, which include claims of attempted poisoning, illegal surveillance, and politically motivated suppression, paint a grim picture of the country’s democratic integrity.
In a stirring social media post titled “Pray without ceasing! Truth and Reconciliation Justice”, Barker-Vormawor laid bare incidents of intimidation and violence that he alleges were orchestrated by the state against critical voices.
His statement particularly spotlights the ordeal of Hon. Andy Appiah-Kubi, a former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament, who, according to Barker-Vormawor, became a target for his own party after demanding the removal of former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
“Andy Appiah-Kubi, then an NPP MP, foresaw the risk of a landslide loss for his party and dared to demand Ken Ofori-Atta’s removal. For that, his own government poisoned him. Even while hospitalized, senior officials attempted to forcibly remove him.
“He had to seek protection—not from criminals, but from his own government—through the U.S. embassy. In the end, they ensured he lost his seat.”
Osagyefo Oliver Barker-Vormawor,
“These are his own words, not mine,” Barker-Vormawor emphasized, reinforcing that the allegations come directly from Appiah-Kubi himself.
Barker-Vormawor’s Own Ordeal in Jail
The activist further revisited his harrowing experience while imprisoned, where he claims state operatives attempted to harm him.
He recalled exposing an alleged attempt to stab and poison him while in detention, an incident that led the government to admit that a National Security operative had been planted in his tiny 4×4 cell.
However, authorities maintained that the operative’s mission was not to assassinate him but to “monitor” his activities.
Barker-Vormawor, however, remains unconvinced. He pointed to the knife, poisoned bread, and mobile phone that fellow inmates reportedly confiscated from the operative when he attempted to get close to him.
“And yet, these are the same people given platforms today to preach about morality and democracy,” he remarked sarcastically, highlighting the irony of his persecutors now presenting themselves as defenders of democratic values.
Adding weight to his claims, Barker-Vormawor disclosed that multiple foreign embassies had repeatedly offered him asylum based on intelligence reports that suggested he would not survive until 2024.
He acknowledged that while such offers would have guaranteed his safety, he chose to stay in Ghana to continue the fight for justice and accountability.
“The public has no idea what it has taken to still be standing here, in dignity,” he wrote, hinting at the untold struggles he and others have endured under political repression under the previous NPP’s administration.
In his post, Barker-Vormawor made a passionate plea for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate and document the alleged horrors perpetrated by the previous government.
He stressed that Ghanaians must hear these stories to understand the full extent of the injustices inflicted on political dissenters.
“Our stories must be told! Part of ORAL and Resetting must also be to account for the human pain and suffering,” he urged. He believes that such a commission is essential for national healing, justice, and the restoration of public trust in Ghana’s democratic institutions.
Barker-Vormawor’s calls for justice have resonated with many, particularly other members of the Democracy Accountability Hub, sparking renewed discussions on the need for political accountability and protection of human rights in Ghana.
Whether the government will heed these calls and establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission remains to be seen.
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