The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has withdrawn allegations he earlier made against the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, concerning the ongoing recruitment process into the country’s security services.
The retraction followed a directive by the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor, who indicated that the Minority Leader could be referred to Parliament’s Privileges Committee over possible contempt after the Interior Minister complained that the claims were unfounded.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin had previously alleged that the involvement of a third-party IT firm in the recruitment exercise amounted to a scam and placed excessive financial burden on applicants.
However, addressing the House on Wednesday, March 4, the Minority Leader formally withdrew the remarks and apologised for the statement.
“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not do that to hurt him or tarnish his reputation, and if the text of my concern reflected so, it is hereby accordingly withdrawn.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 said on the floor of Parliament.
Responding to the apology, Mr. Muntaka accepted it but stated that the allegations had caused him considerable distress due to the seriousness of the claims.
“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,” he said.
The Interior Minister further appealed for the statements to be expunged from the official parliamentary record so that the matter would be treated as though it had never occurred.
