Government attempted bribing us out of protests – #OccupyJulorbiHouse convener

Lead convener for the ongoing #OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstration, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has alleged that influential figures in the ruling administration offered them some goodies to cancel their series of protests.

Speaking to the press on the sidelines of day 2 of their demonstration on Friday, September 22, 2023, Barker-Vormawor alleged that the government, through the National Security Minister, enticed them with some $1 million and job opportunities.

Barker-Vormawor, who also started the FixTheCountry movement, alleged that he has a recording of an invitation from Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah to talk to him and his team about their protests.

“Unknown to the government, we have recordings; while I was in the UK, the National Security Minister called and invited me for a sit-down. The government offered to pay for my flight in order to meet me here in Ghana. This was something that was never disclosed to the public, but we met at a safe house to stop our activism. This was way before we started the first #FixTheCountry demonstration. We were offered not only money but appointments, and if we agreed to stop this, we were going to be free.”

He claimed further that Mr. Kan Dapaah resolved to arrest them should they reject his offer.

“The National Security Minister said to my face that if we decide to continue on this course of action, we will be arrested. We will be dealt with, and it will be over his dead body before any demonstrations happen,” he added.

He told the press, however, that he and his team rejected the offer, adding that he was not surprised by several attempts by the government to frustrate him from demonstrating.

Scores of protesters were arrested by the police on Thursday for massing up at the 37 Trotro station in Accra, purportedly to start the demonstration, which was planned to end at the Jubilee House.

The police accused the organisers of flouting the Public Order Act by disregarding a court application to stop their protest, citing public safety concerns.