The Executive Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Dr. Rasheed Draman has raised serious concerns over the handling of Oliver Barker-Vormawor’s apology before the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
Dr. Draman noted that this is not the first-time allegations of bribery have surfaced regarding the Appointments Committee.
He recalled similar concerns in both the 7th and 8th Parliaments, about certain nominees, stating;
“In the 8th Parliament, there were issues about some nominees—issues were raised about them before they went to the vetting. Yet in the end, we saw them all approved by Parliament. And then this one, it passed just so quickly and so easily. I would have thought that with this kind of very serious allegation, Parliament itself would take a lot of interest in making sure that the matter is investigated properly, and then we are given some clarity—particularly one that clears the name of Parliament and the committee. But that’s not what we have seen.”
Dr. Rasheed Draman Executive Director, ACEPA
Dr. Draman stressed that allowing such serious allegations to go unexamined harms the integrity of Parliament. He pointed out;
“As the Right Honorable Speaker had said, respect is earned. There are so many controversies around this committee already—more than we have seen of any such committee in the past. To let this matter just go very easily, I guess, would not be good for the image of an institution that we are going to rely upon to hold government to account.”
Dr. Rasheed Draman Executive Director, ACEPA
He warned that if Parliament does not take decisive action, similar allegations will arise in the future. He reiterated;
“Tomorrow, somebody would say the same thing, and then come before the committee and say, ‘I’m sorry. And people might be asking the question—was there any negotiation? Was there any discussion to sweep this under the carpet?”
Dr. Rasheed Draman Executive Director, ACEPA
Dr. Draman called on Parliament to prioritize its own reputation by ensuring that such allegations are properly investigated. He added;
“It’s in the interest of the committee itself and in the interest of Parliament not to let such matters pass easily. We don’t want our Members of Parliament to be carrying that burden—that they are corrupt. Already, those perceptions exist.”
Dr. Rasheed Draman Executive Director, ACEPA
Dr. Draman cited recent surveys, such as the Afro barometer report, which ranked Parliament as the third most corrupt institution in the country.
He argued that failing to investigate these allegations will only reinforce negative public perceptions. He stressed that Parliament should take proactive steps to clear its name rather than allowing suspicions to fester. Dr. Draman suggested;
“For me, that’s why matters like this— a public hearing is in order. So that in the full glare of the media and all the public following, Parliament’s name is cleared. Then maybe the next time we have another round of Afro barometer surveys, perhaps their image might be better than what we have seen in the past. But I can bet you, matters such as this one would only make their image worse.”
Dr. Rasheed Draman Executive Director, ACEPA
When asked whether the matter should be referred to the Privileges Committee, Dr. Draman suggested that while the apology could be accepted, a thorough investigation is still necessary. Dr. Draman questioned whether summoning Oliver Barker-Vormawor to Parliament was the right approach. He argued;
“Yesterday[Tuesday], I was saying that that’s not even the place for him because there’s a committee that is mandated to deal with matters such as this one.”
Dr. Rasheed Draman Executive Director, ACEPA
He pointed out that the Speaker had recently intervened in a dispute between the Minority Chief Whip Annor Dompreh and Emefa Hardcastle and suggested that a similar approach could have been taken and even much priority given to in this case.
A Broader Crisis of Trust in Leadership
Dr. Draman noted that declining trust in democracy and leadership is not just a Ghanaian problem but a global issue. He pointed out;
“We saw the military leader from Burkina when he showed up at the inauguration of our President. You heard the applause. I mean, what does that tell you? That’s a military leader, and we are talking about an event to celebrate democracy. And yet our citizenry applauded this man.”
Dr. Rasheed Draman Executive Director, ACEPA
He suggested that such reactions indicate deep dissatisfaction with the current democratic system and governance. He reaffirmed;
“The name of Parliament is not clear in this matter because they are saying, ‘We accept, and go and sin no more.’ And the media gave it the same kind of attention that you gave it yesterday[Tuesday]. For me, I don’t think it cuts it. It still leaves a lot of questions unanswered.”
Dr. Rasheed Draman Executive Director, ACEPA
He urged Parliament to take every necessary step to clear its name and restore public trust. Dr. Rasheed Draman’s remarks highlight the urgent need for greater transparency and accountability in Ghana’s Parliament. While Oliver Barker-Vormawor’s apology may have been accepted,
Dr. Draman insists that without a proper investigation, Parliament risks further damaging its reputation and public trust. The call for a full inquiry into bribery allegations is not just about one case—it is about preserving the integrity of the legislative institution and strengthening democracy.
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