Barker-Vormawor Releases Audio Alleging $1 Million Bribe from Government Official
Oliver Barker-Vormawor, lead convener of the #FixTheCountry movement, has made public an audio recording involving an alleged government minister. In this recording, the official purportedly offers Barker-Vormawor incentives, including $1 million, to cease his activism. This revelation follows earlier claims by Barker-Vormawor that the Minister for National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah, attempted to bribe him into halting #FixTheCountry activities.
In the eight-minute recording, Barker-Vormawor discusses the prospect of structured engagement between the movement and government officials, noting the importance of maintaining public trust. He also mentions needing to travel to Ghana to facilitate the discussions. The minister, in response, assures Barker-Vormawor of his safety in Ghana and even offers to facilitate his travel.
The conversation took a cautious tone, with the minister suggesting a private meeting with only the Minister of Finance and a few others present. “There’s no way the security agencies will harm you if you come to Ghana. I will ensure your safety,” the minister is heard saying. He suggested the use of a secure location for the meeting and agreed to include General Kutin from the Ghana Armed Forces as a mediator.
In response to Barker-Vormawor’s claims, the Ministry of National Security issued a statement denying any bribery attempts, though it did confirm that officials, including the National Security and Finance Ministers, had met with #FixTheCountry activists in 2021. Barker-Vormawor, however, maintains that in a separate, private meeting, the Minister of National Security had directly offered him $1 million to stop his activism. He also claimed the minister offered him a government position if he would agree to disengage from the movement.
In an interview with Joy News in 2023, Barker-Vormawor elaborated on the government’s concerns. He claimed that officials were worried his activism might mobilize young people in ways that could impact national security. He clarified that the alleged bribe offer took place before the initial #FixTheCountry demonstration, in early discussions with officials who feared the potential for mass youth mobilization.
This revelation has sparked discussions around government transparency and the challenges of activist-government interactions in Ghana. The release of the audio recording is seen by Barker-Vormawor as evidence supporting his claims and underscores the broader tensions surrounding #FixTheCountry’s influence and the government’s responses to the movement.
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