First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor, has withdrawn the referral of Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to the Privileges Committee following a formal apology to the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, over allegations of fraud in the security service recruitment process.
Delivering his ruling on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, March 4, Ahiafor also directed that comments deemed inappropriate by both the Majority and Minority Leaders be expunged from the official parliamentary record.
“I would order that the referral to the Privileges and Immunity Committee for examination and enquiry is accordingly withdrawn. I will further direct that those words complained about, said by the Minority Leader and the Majority leader, are accordingly ordered to be expunged from the record as if they do not exist. By so doing, the matter is put to rest,” he stated.
The Minority Leader had earlier alleged that the engagement of a third-party IT firm in the security recruitment exercise amounted to a scam and imposed excessive financial burdens on applicants. In response, the Interior Minister lodged a formal complaint, leading to the initial referral of the matter to the Privileges Committee.
During proceedings, Afenyo-Markin formally retracted his remarks and expressed regret, stressing that he had no intention of damaging the Minister’s reputation.
“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not do that to hurt him or tarnish his reputation, and if the text of my concern reflected so, it is hereby accordingly withdrawn.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 arise in the future shall be properly brought to his attention,” he stated.
The Interior Minister welcomed the apology, acknowledging the emotional strain caused by the allegations but accepting it in good faith. He further requested that the disputed remarks be struck from the official record to signify that the matter had been conclusively resolved.
Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
