A prominent activist of the FixTheCountry movement in Ghana, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has come under fire for his delayed disclosure of an alleged bribery attempt by the government. He claims that he was offered $1 million by the National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah, to stop his campaign for social and economic reforms in 2021.
However, Enam Akoetey, a sustainability, climate, and social innovation advisor, has questioned his integrity and credibility for not publishing the evidence of the bribe at the time it happened. She said that if she were in his position, she would have exposed the corruption immediately and not listened to any pressure to keep quiet.
Akoetey made these remarks on a news analysis program on JoyNews, a Ghanaian media outlet, on Saturday, September 23. She challenged Barker-Vormawor to prove his allegations with concrete proof and not just make sensational claims.
Barker-Vormawor, who is also a lawyer, has accepted the challenge and said that he has an audio recording of his secret meeting with Kan-Dapaah, where the offer was made. He said that he will release the audio to the public after the ongoing #OccupyJulorbiHouse protest, which is demanding the resignation of the president over alleged mismanagement of the economy.
The National Security Ministry has denied the allegation and said that it never met with Barker-Vormawor individually, but only with a group of FixTheCountry conveners and other stakeholders in 2021. The ministry said that the meeting was aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to the grievances of the protesters and not to bribe them.
The #FixTheCountry movement started in May 2021 as a social media campaign to express dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in Ghana. It has since grown into a nationwide protest movement that has organised several demonstrations and rallies to demand better governance, accountability, and service delivery.
The movement has faced several challenges and obstacles from the authorities, such as court injunctions, police brutality, and intimidation. Some of its members have also been arrested and charged with various offences, such as unlawful assembly, causing public nuisance, and conspiracy to commit crime.
Despite these difficulties, the movement has vowed to continue its struggle until their demands are met. They have also received support and solidarity from various civil society groups, celebrities, and ordinary citizens who share their vision for a better Ghana.
Source: My Joy Online
