South Dayi Member of Parliament, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has challenged the Appointments Committee’s decision to investigate bribery allegations made by human rights activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor, insisting that the matter falls within the jurisdiction of the Privileges Committee.

According to Dafeamekpor, the allegations amount to contempt of Parliament and should be handled appropriately. Speaking during Barker-Vormawor’s questioning today, he expressed concern that the Appointments Committee was overstepping its mandate.

"We are spending our precious hours to deal with a matter that we don't have the mandate to deal with. So Chairman, I made the point that we have power to invite, to put it to him that his statement is contempt of Parliament and of its committee, to that extent a referral will be made by this committee to the appropriate committee. When a report is prepared of that proceedings, then plenary itself will decide on the matter and come out with whatever resolution will be made on the matter," he explained.

He further criticized the approach taken by the committee, arguing that the interrogation of Barker-Vormawor was procedurally flawed.

"The interrogation, cross-examination are all procedurally improper in the interim," he added.

Barker-Vormawor recently accused members of the Appointments Committee of demanding money from ministerial nominees appointed by former President John Mahama before vetting and approving them. The allegations sparked outrage, leading to his summons before the committee.

Committee Chairman Bernard Ahiafor, however, dismissed the claims and maintained that neither he nor his colleagues had solicited payments from nominees.

"Our attention is drawn to the media statement by Oliver Barker-Vormawor to the effect that the Majority Members of the Committee have been demanding money before approving the nominees and the Chairman must submit himself to ORAL. Let me place on record that I am ever ready to submit myself to ORAL. The second aspect was to the effect that all the committee members are taking money from the nominees before vetting and approval," Ahiafor stated.

He further emphasized the need to put an end to such allegations against Parliament.

"We need to stop this attitude. So therefore, I, Bernard Ahiafor, First Deputy Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament and Chairman of the Vetting Committee, want to place it on record that myself and the committee members do not demand money from any nominee before vetting and for approval," he added.

Despite these assertions, Dafeamekpor maintains that the Appointments Committee lacks the authority to probe the matter and has called for its referral to the Privileges Committee for proper adjudication.