Anti-corruption campaigner Oliver Barker-Vormawor has weighed in on growing social media discussions comparing businessman Ato Essien to Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, following the reappearance of Essien at a high-profile government function.
In a detailed post sighted by *MyNewsGH*, Barker-Vormawor appealed to the public to stop tagging him in images of Essien and drawing parallels between the two individuals. According to him, the circumstances surrounding their respective cases are fundamentally different.
“Please, for the love of God, can people stop tagging me in the picture of Ato Essien at the high-level government event and also stop comparing him to Abu Trica. The two cases are not the same,” he stated.
Barker-Vormawor explained that Ato Essien was convicted for offences involving Ghanaian public funds and has since been granted bail pending appeal on health grounds, as he was reportedly in critical condition. He stressed that Essien’s legal situation followed due process and a formal conviction.
In contrast, he noted that Abu Trica has not been formally charged or convicted of any offence. However, he referenced explanations previously given by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), which reportedly described Abu Trica as a notorious criminal suspect despite the absence of a conviction.
Responding to comments pointing out that both men hail from Swedru, Barker-Vormawor dismissed the relevance of that comparison. “Those saying Ato Essien is also from Swedru—so what? It’s like saying they are both Ghanaians. Is your Ghana the same as his Ghana?” he asked rhetorically.
The renewed debate emerged after Ato Essien was spotted at a press conference marking the signing of an agreement between Cybele Energy and the Government of Guyana for oil exploration in South America. Essien is reported to be the first African and the first Ghanaian to secure such a deal, an achievement that has attracted both attention and controversy given his past conviction.
Some social media users have suggested that Barker-Vormawor’s comments may have been sarcastic, while others continue to debate the broader implications of justice, accountability, and public perception.
Source: MyNewsGH.com
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