Afenyo-Markin Retracts Fraud Allegations Against Interior Minister, Offers Apology in Parliament
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has formally withdrawn and apologised for allegations of fraud he made against Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka regarding the ongoing recruitment exercise in the security services.
The retraction came during parliamentary proceedings on Wednesday after First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor referred the Minority Leader to the Privileges Committee on contempt charges. The referral followed a complaint by the Interior Minister, who accused Afenyo-Markin of levelling unsubstantiated claims.
The Minority Leader had earlier described the engagement of a third-party IT firm in the recruitment process as a scam that imposed heavy financial burdens on applicants.
In his statement to the House, Afenyo-Markin expressed regret and withdrew the remarks without reservation.
“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not do that to hurt him or tarnish his reputation, and if the text of my concern reflected so, it is hereby accordingly withdrawn,” he said. “I assure you that concerns that will arise out of any matter shall be properly brought to his attention.”
Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka accepted the apology but described the original allegations as deeply painful and damaging.
“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 responded. “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.”
The Minister added a plea for the record to be cleared.
“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.
The swift apology and acceptance brought a moment of reconciliation in what had threatened to become a prolonged confrontation between the Minority Leader and the Minister. The House is now expected to move past the matter without further escalation to the Privileges Committee.
