Accra: The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor, has retracted the referral of Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to the Privileges Committee after Afenyo-Markin issued a formal apology to Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak. The apology was in response to allegations made by Afenyo-Markin regarding fraud in the security service recruitment process.
According to Ghana Web, Ahiafor delivered his ruling on the floor of Parliament, instructing that the matter be dismissed and the controversial remarks be removed from the official record. He stated that the referral to the Privileges and Immunity Committee for examination and inquiry is withdrawn, and ordered that the contested words by the Minority Leader and Majority Leader be expunged.
The issue surfaced when the Minority Leader claimed that the use of a third-party IT firm in the security recruitment process was a scam, leading to high financial burdens on applicants. This prompted the Interior Minister to file a complaint, which initially led to the referral to the Privileges Committee.
During the proceedings, Afenyo-Markin retracted his statements and expressed regret, emphasizing that he did not intend to harm the Minister's reputation. He assured that future concerns would be appropriately addressed. The Interior Minister accepted the apology and asked for the remarks to be expunged, acknowledging the emotional impact of the allegations. This ruling officially concludes the dispute.