Dafeamekpor wants Privileges Committee to handle Barker-Vormawor’s issue

Majority Chief Whip Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor has said the appointments committee of parliament should refer to the privileges committee on the issue involving activist Oliver Barlker-Vormawor.

It was his view that this would enable the committee to focus on its mandate to vet the ministerial nominees.

“Let the privileges committee deal with this matter, they have jurisdiction to deal with this matter and then we will appear as a witnesses. We are spending precious hours dealing with matters we don’t have the power to deal with.

“We have the power to invite and put it to him, to that end a referral should be made to the appropriate committee.”

But the Chair of the committee Bernard Ahiafor, overruled him and said “We took a decision to invite him to substantiate his claim, he has exercised his right of a lawyer of his own choice. There is a categorical denial of one of the statements not emanating from him. They admitted a statement emanating from him, and Oliver and the lawyer both agreed to render an apology to the committee.

“The meaning that I gather from that is that whatever he has admitted being his post, he doesn’t have any evidence to substantiate that is why he wants the opportunity to apologise and withdraw. I believe that we need to give him the opportunity and listen to the words of his apology and then as a committee we can pick it from there.”

Nana Ato Dadzie, Lawyer for  Oliver Baker-Vormawor had told the Appointments Committee of Parliament that his client did not intend to denigrate the committee with the bribery allegation.

Appearing before the committee, on Wednesday January 29, he said “It was never intentional to make disparaging comments about the committee.”

He added, “It is the statement of a whistleblower about some happenings that must be looked at.”

Barker-Vormwor appeared before the committee over the allegation that committee members take monies to approve ministerial nominees.

On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, the Committee before beginning its vetting of Defence Minister-designate, Dr. Omane Boamah stated that its attention has been drawn to the false allegation by the legal practitioner in a Facebook post on Friday, January 24.

Chairman of the Committee, Bernard Ahiafor took exception to the allegations and demanded that Oliver appears before the Committee to substantiate his claims.

“We invite Oliver Barker-Vormawor to appear before the Committee tomorrow (Wednesday, January 29,2025) at noon to provide evidence on whether the vetting Committee or any member that we demand money before vetting or approval,” he stated.

The Minority members on the Committee argued that their reputation has been tarnished, insisting they will only proceed with the vetting process once the matter is resolved.

“I think that we should not continue with today’s vetting, it’s reputational. Our reputation is at stake” Minority Chief Whip, stated.

Meanwhile, the Majority MPs suggested that the House should continue with the vetting process, while the matter is dealt with, and that Parliament cannot be incapacitated because of mere allegations.

 

 

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