The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has formally withdrawn and apologised for allegations that the 2025/2026 recruitment exercises into Ghana’s security services were riddled with a scam.
His apology was directed at the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, whom he said he never intended to personally accuse or damage his reputation.
Addressing the House at the start of proceedings, Afenyo-Markin said any impression created by his earlier remarks that the minister was directly involved in wrongdoing was unintended.
“I want to state categorically that contrary to the impression that I specially made an allegation against him which injures his reputation, I will not do that specifically to hurt him or his Ministry, and if the text of my concerns reflected so, it is hereby accordingly withdrawn,” he said.
He added that when colleagues in Parliament feel aggrieved by statements made during debates, the appropriate step is to retract and apologise.
His comments follow heated exchanges in the House over claims that the recruitment process into the security services involved impropriety.
Presiding over proceedings, First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor announced that the referral of the Minority Leader to Parliament’s Privileges and Immunities Committee had been withdrawn following the retraction.
He further directed that the earlier allegations be expunged from the official parliamentary record.
“The retraction and apology by the Minority Leader… and the acceptance by the Minister of the Interior means the referral to the Privileges and Immunities Committee for examination, inquiry and report is accordingly withdrawn,” Ahiafor said.
Responding to the apology, Muntaka said it was painful to be wrongly accused, especially when allegations suggested criminality or serious misconduct.
However, he said he accepted the apology in the spirit of collegiality and mutual respect within Parliament.
“I am heavily hurt and worried, but who am I to say that if a colleague errs using the same microphone in the same chamber and now comes back to withdraw and apologise, I will play God and refuse it?” he said.
The minister added that he accepted the apology wholeheartedly and urged lawmakers to maintain respect for one another while working to ensure accountability.
He also assured members of Parliament that the Interior Ministry and security service commanders would address any concerns raised about recruitment processes going forward.
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