The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor, has referred the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, to the privileges committee following a complaint by the Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak.
The referral follows allegations that the Minority Leader described the ongoing security recruitment exercise as a scam and claimed that the use of a third-party IT firm was imposing high financial costs on applicants.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Bernard Ahiafor said, “The fact that this matter has been referred to privileges does not mean that the person is guilty. That is why I said all suspects are supposed to be deemed innocent.
“I am not pronouncing on the guilt of the Minority Leader or otherwise. I am not. And it is not the responsibility at this stage to do so. It is the responsibility of the committee to make that recommendation to the House.”
In response to the complaint, the Minority Leader has called for a public hearing as part of the investigation, stating that he is prepared to appear before the committee.
“Honourable Minister of Interior, I am not too sure you want us to pursue this matter. I repeat, because you and I know what we know. Let the referral be made, let there be a public hearing. Let Afenyo-Markin, who these days is seen as perhaps, according to the allegation, saying something untruthful, and because of that, it is a breach of parliamentary privilege. Mr Speaker, you have the wisdom to exercise discretion.
“I will avail myself, should you exercise that discretion, to a public hearing, and then the matter can be brought to a peaceful rest.”
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, added that attempts by the opposition to create non-existent scandals to tarnish the image of the government will not work, warning that the NDC MPs will push for severe punishment against Afenyo-Markin should he fail to substantiate his allegations.
