Minority Leader apologises, withdraws recruitment fraud allegations against Muntaka

The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has withdrawn his statements and apologized to the Interior Minister, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, for claiming fraud in the current security service recruitment process.

The apology, presented in Parliament on Wednesday, 4 March, came after a directive from the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, who sent the Minority Leader to the Privileges Committee for reasons of contempt.

The referral followed the Interior Minister’s assertion that the allegations against him were unfounded and detrimental.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin had earlier claimed that the participation of an external IT company in the hiring process constituted a scam and imposed an excessive financial strain on applicants “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not do that to hurt him or tarnish his reputation, and if the text of my concern reflected so, it is hereby accordingly withdrawn.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.

In response to the apology, Mr. Mohammed-Mubarak stated that it was terrible to be falsely accused or to have one’s acts misinterpreted and labeled differently from the original meaning, especially when such accusations imply criminality or serious misbehavior.

He said that he would be the last to undercut efforts to ensure effective leadership in Parliament, citing the immense privilege of serving in the House.

“Colleagues, remember most of the time I keep saying, please, let us respect each other.

“I will be the first to always say that we fight for the right thing to be done. Make sure that wrong things are not done, but let us not do it, as we intend to destroy each other.

“I am heavily hurt and heavily worried, but who am I to say that if a colleague errs using the same spots or the same microphone in the same chamber, now comes back to say he has withdrawn and is apologising, I am going to play God and I will not accept it?

“I accept it wholeheartedly and I pray that this guides all of us, myself, the hardworking service commanders that I have, the hardworking staff at the ministry, for us to do the right thing and to also assure the Minority Leader and the Minority and the whole house that if there are anything that they think needs our attention, we will be more than happy to look at them and address them,” he stated.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com