Afenyo-Markin could have handled recruitment accusations better – Muntaka

Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka says Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin could have handled concerns about security recruitment better by first seeking clarification.

Mr. Muntaka said the Minority Leader had several formal options available if he wanted explanations regarding the recruitment process, but chose a different path.

“I’ve been a Member of Parliament for over two decades, so I know this very well,” the Interior Minister stated during an interview on the Hot Issues programme on TV3 Network on Sunday.

According to him, direct engagement between lawmakers could have resolved the matter before it escalated into public controversy.

“And yes, I believe that it was not necessary because this is somebody that we have all served in leadership before and I would just be a phone call away,” he said.

Mr. Muntaka explained that Mr. Afenyo-Markin, as Minority Leader, had the authority to request information formally from the Interior Ministry or raise the issue through parliamentary procedures.

“Even if not call, as a Minority Leader he has every right to write a demanding explanation about certain issues,” he said. “He could also ask a parliamentary question where I have to come and answer.”

He added that informal engagement between colleagues could also have addressed the concerns.

“If he had come to say, ‘look bro, I’ve heard about this, I want to have a conversation. Can I see any evidence that this didn’t happen?’ those things could be done,” he said.

Mr. Muntaka said he was unsure why the Minority Leader opted for the approach he did but noted that parliamentary procedures provide clear mechanisms for resolving disputes.

The comments follow concerns raised by Mr. Afenyo-Markin over the use of artificial intelligence-based aptitude tests in the ongoing recruitment into Ghana’s security services.

The Effutu MP told Parliament that several applicants had complained about difficulties with the online testing system, leading to their disqualification.

He therefore called on government to review the recruitment system to ensure fairness and improve accessibility for applicants who may not have strong digital skills.

Mr. Muntaka, however, suggested that raising such concerns directly with the ministry first could have helped address the matter more effectively.