The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has formally retracted and apologised to the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, over claims that the 2025/2026 recruitment exercises into the security services were fraught with a scam.

He said he regretted any impression that his earlier comments had injured the reputation of the Minister.

“I want to state categorically that contrary to the impression he had 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do that specifically to hurt him or his Ministry, and if the text of my concerns reflected so, it is hereby accordingly withdrawn,” he said.

Apology on the floor

Addressing the House at the commencement of business, Mr Afenyo-Markin emphasised the need for colleagues to correct unintended statements.

“Mr Speaker, as colleagues, when a member feels strongly about a statement, which is unintended, the right thing to do is to withdraw and apologise to him, and I proceed with this.

“I assure you that concerns that would arise out of any matter shall be properly brought to his attention but on this matter, as I have said before, I would repeat for Hansard that anything related to him or his ministry is withdrawn and again apologies to him,” he said.

His apology follows heightened exchanges in the House over allegations that the recruitment process involved impropriety.

Referral to Privileges Committee withdrawn

The First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, who presided over proceedings, announced that he had withdrawn the referral of the Minority Leader to the Committee on Privileges and Immunities.

“The retraction and apology by the Minority Leader of those statements made during the State of the Nation Address, and also following the acceptance by the Minister of Interior. I would order that the referral to the Privileges and Immunities Committee for examination, inquiry and report is accordingly withdrawn,” he said.

He further directed that the allegations made by the Minority Leader be expunged from the official records as if they did not exist.

‘It is painful’ — Minister responds

Responding to the apology, Mr Mohammed-Mubarak said it was painful to be wrongfully accused or to have one’s actions misconstrued and labelled differently from the original intention, particularly when such allegations suggested criminality or serious wrongdoing.

Saying that he had had the great privilege of serving in leadership in the House, he stated that he would be the last to undermine efforts at ensuring effective leadership in Parliament.

“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 said.