On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, social activist and lawyer Oliver Barker-Vormawor appeared before the 11-member Appointments Committee to substantiate his claims and allegations of corrupt practices in the ongoing vetting process.
His appearance follows a summons by the committee over some claims he made in a social media post.
The hearing lived up to expectations with dramatic exchanges, emotional flare-ups, and verbal confrontations, among other events. Notable moments included tense verbal clashes between the respected lawyer Nana Ato Dadzie and Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Ranking Member of the committee, as well as a heated exchange between Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Minority Chief Whip, and Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the central figure of the hearing.
Nana Ato Dadzie vs Afenyo-Markin
The Ranking Member of the Appointments Committee, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, had a heated exchange with Nana Ato Dadzie, the counsel for social activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor when the committee demanded an apology and retraction.
In defending his client, Ato Dadzie emphasised that the comments were not intended to disparage the committee members.
Afenyo-Markin, who is also the Minority Leader, appeared displeased with the renowned lawyer’s approach to handling the issue and angrily interrupted.
Acknowledging the venerable lawyer’s experience and knowledge, Afenyo-Markin, in a fit of anger, questioned whether they were ready to issue the apology or not. He expressed his frustration over how the matter was being prolonged.
“Counsel, with the greatest respect as we sit here very respected senior citizens of this country are engaging us. We were initially divided on this matter so please help your client. We respect you and I’m sure he [Vormawor] knows why he chose you. You are a respected counsel. Are you issuing an unqualified apology? If not let’s close this matter,” he queried.
The Effutu lawmaker added that Ato Dadzie’s references to his years of experience and time spent practising law were irrelevant and would not contribute to resolving the issue, insisting that an apology was necessary to bring the matter to a close.
“The speaker is of the view that we should manage this matter and that is what we are doing but when we give you the chance you say you’ve spent 15 years at the bar and so on. No, Nana Ato Dadzie, this is not an NDC or NPP matter. We want to solve it but this is not a matter of 10 or 15 years at the bar, we are solving a problem.”
Annoh-Dompreh and Barker-Vormawor
Annoh-Dompreh, expressing strong disapproval and frustration over Barker-Vormawor’s allegations, angrily called on him to take accountability and responsibility for his actions.
According to Annoh-Dompreh, Barker-Vormawor’s claim that one of the two posts attributed to him was fake did not resolve the issue.
Annoh-Dompreh argued that Barker-Vormawor’s apology appeared to be an afterthought and insisted that he should defend the statement he boldly made on social media.
“Mr Vormawor, I want you to appreciate that parliament is an arm of government and you often go on social media to make all manner of comments. So, at what point did you realise that a particular post was not attributable to you?
“And yet, you stayed until you got an invitation from parliament before you responded. Even after the invitation you still went on and made further posts. I am putting it to you that you have disrespected an arm of government,” he said angrily.
He added, “Your apology is an afterthought, you have no evidence of the allegation you threw to parliament and the committee and you are just on the frolic of your own just to disrespect parliament and thought that nobody was going to do anything to you. You should be bold, as bold as you were when you were putting out the statement to defend your statement and not to come here and give us a lame apology. Be bold and defend what you put out as a man.”
Meanwhile, Barker-Vormawor was given the platform to apologize and he did so with an assurance that he would delete the post which incurred the spleen of the committee members.
MAG/EK
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