The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has issued a formal apology to the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, following controversy surrounding allegations he made about the ongoing security services recruitment exercise.
The apology was delivered on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, March 4, after the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, earlier referred the Minority Leader to the Privileges and Immunities Committee. The referral came after the Interior Minister accused Mr. Afenyo-Markin of making claims that lacked evidence.
The Effutu MP had previously suggested that the use of a third-party information technology firm in the recruitment process was questionable. He further alleged that the arrangement had turned into a scam that placed unnecessary financial burdens on applicants seeking to join the security services.
During parliamentary proceedings, however, Mr. Afenyo-Markin withdrew the remarks and clarified that he had no intention of damaging the minister’s reputation.
“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not do that to hurt him or tarnish his reputation, and if the text of my concern reflected so, it is hereby accordingly withdrawn.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, Mr. Muntaka accepted the retraction but expressed disappointment over the earlier 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,” he said.
The Interior Minister noted that although the allegations had caused him significant distress, he was willing to put the matter behind him.
“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.
Following the exchange, the First Deputy Speaker ruled that the earlier decision to refer the Minority Leader to the Privileges and Immunities Committee would be rescinded.
“I would order that the referral to the Privileges and Immunity Committee for examination and enquiry is accordingly withdrawn,” Mr. Ahiafor ruled.
He also instructed that the disputed comments from both sides of the House be removed from the official parliamentary record.
“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 decision effectively ends the disagreement that had sparked heated exchanges in Parliament over allegations linked to the ongoing security services recruitment exercise.
