The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has withdrawn earlier allegations he made against the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, regarding the ongoing recruitment into the country’s security services.
His retraction follows a directive from the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor, who recommended that the Minority Leader be referred to Parliament’s Privileges Committee over possible contempt. The directive came after the Interior Minister complained that the claims made against him were unfounded.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin had previously alleged that the use of a third-party IT company in the recruitment process amounted to a scam and imposed excessive costs on applicants.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, March 4, the Minority Leader formally withdrew his remarks and apologised.
“Mr Speaker, I will not do that to hurt him or tarnish his reputation, and if the text of my concern reflected so, it is hereby accordingly withdrawn. I assure you that concerns that will arise out of any matter shall be properly brought to his attention,” he stated.
Responding to the apology, the Interior Minister accepted it but noted that the allegations had caused him considerable distress, particularly given the seriousness of the accusations.
“It is painful to be wrongly accused and be labelled differently from the intention that you have, especially when it is connected with heavy wrongdoing. I am heavily hurt and heavily worried, but who am I to say that I will not accept when my colleague comes to apologise? I accept it wholeheartedly. My plea is that, if it is possible, it should be expunged from our records so that it will be as though it never happened,” he said.
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