BY VALENTIA TETTEH
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has apologised to the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, over allegations of fraud in the ongoing security services recruitment process.
The apology follows a directive by the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor, who had earlier referred the Minority Leader to the Committee on Privileges and Immunities after the Interior Minister accused him of making unsubstantiated claims.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin had alleged that the engagement of a third-party IT firm in the recruitment exercise amounted to a scam and imposed excessive financial costs on applicants.
However, during parliamentary proceedings on Wednesday, March 4, the Minority Leader formally withdrew the remarks and expressed regret over the matter.
“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not do that to hurt him or tarnish his reputation, and if the text of my concern reflected so, it is hereby accordingly withdrawn.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.
Interior Minister accepts apology
Responding to the apology, the Interior Minister accepted the retraction but described the allegations as deeply distressing.
“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,” he said.
Mr. Muntaka added that although the allegations had caused him considerable concern, he was willing to accept the apology.
“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 stated.
Referral withdrawn
Following the apology, the First Deputy Speaker withdrew the earlier referral of the Minority Leader to the Privileges Committee and ordered that the disputed remarks be removed from the official parliamentary record.
“I would order that the referral to the Privileges and Immunity Committee for examination and enquiry is accordingly withdrawn,” Mr. Ahiafor ruled.
He further directed that comments considered inappropriate from both sides of the House be expunged from the parliamentary records.
“I will further direct that those words complained about, said by the Minority Leader and the Majority Leader, are accordingly ordered to be expunged from the record as if they do not exist. By doing so, the matter is put to rest,” he stated.
The development brings closure to the dispute that had generated heated exchanges in Parliament following allegations concerning the security services recruitment exercise.
