The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor, has withdrawn the referral of Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to the Privileges and Immunities Committee after he formally apologised for allegations made against the Minister for the Interior during parliamentary proceedings.
The decision followed a heated dispute in Parliament over claims concerning the ongoing recruitment exercise for the country’s security services. The Minority Leader had earlier alleged that the involvement of a third party information technology firm in the recruitment process amounted to a fraudulent scheme that imposed excessive costs on applicants.
The Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, strongly rejected the allegations and lodged a complaint, arguing that the claims were baseless and damaging to his reputation. The issue prompted the First Deputy Speaker, who was presiding over proceedings, to initially refer Afenyo-Markin to the Privileges Committee for possible contempt of Parliament.
During parliamentary proceedings on March 4, 2026, the Minority Leader retracted the claims and issued an apology to the minister. He told the House that he had no intention of harming the minister’s reputation and withdrew the remarks that had triggered the dispute.
Following the apology, the Interior Minister accepted the retraction, although he noted that the allegations had caused significant distress. He indicated that despite the discomfort caused by the claims, he was willing to accept the apology in the interest of resolving the matter.
After both sides addressed the issue, the First Deputy Speaker ruled that the referral to the Privileges Committee would be withdrawn. He also directed that the disputed statements made during the exchanges be removed from the official parliamentary record.
The ruling effectively brings the matter to a close, ending the dispute that had sparked intense debate in Parliament over the integrity of the security recruitment process and the conduct of lawmakers during the discussions.
