Afenyo-Markin Withdraws Fraud Claims Against Interior Minister, Offers Apology in Parliament

The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has formally withdrawn allegations he made against the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, concerning the ongoing recruitment into the country’s security services.

The retraction comes after the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor, referred the Minority Leader to the Privileges Committee to address potential contempt issues. The referral followed a complaint by the Interior Minister, who described the claims as baseless and damaging.

Mr Afenyo-Markin had earlier questioned the decision to involve a private IT company in the recruitment process, suggesting that the arrangement was questionable and placed excessive financial burden on applicants. His remarks sparked sharp reactions on the floor of Parliament and prompted calls for evidence to substantiate the accusations.

Addressing the House on Wednesday, March 4, the Minority Leader rescinded his comments and expressed regret, stating that he had no intention of undermining the Minister’s integrity. He assured Parliament that any future concerns would be handled through appropriate channels to avoid misunderstandings.

In his response, Mr Muntaka accepted the apology but indicated that the allegations had caused significant personal distress. He noted that being associated with serious misconduct was troubling, particularly when he believed his actions were in line with his official mandate. While acknowledging the gesture of reconciliation, the Minister appealed for the disputed remarks to be struck from the official parliamentary record.

The development brings a temporary close to tensions surrounding the recruitment exercise, as both sides signalled a willingness to move forward.