The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, has thrown his weight behind the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, in a deepening parliamentary standoff with Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin over the ongoing recruitment into Ghana’s security services.

The dispute, which has generated intense debate on the floor of Parliament, centres on allegations by Mr. Afenyo-Markin that the recruitment process lacks transparency and inclusivity.

Minority Raises Transparency Concerns

Contributing to discussions on Thursday, the Effutu lawmaker questioned the methodology being used in the recruitment exercise, particularly the deployment of a centralised, AI-generated aptitude test platform reportedly developed by a private software firm, TribeNet, under the supervision of the Ministry of the Interior.

According to him, the process appears to sideline the institutional leadership of key security agencies, including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, and Ghana Prisons Service.

Mr Afenyo-Markin described the development as raising “serious concerns” and called for greater clarity on the role of the private firm and the level of oversight exercised by the respective security agencies.

Interior Minister Rejects Allegations

In response, Alhaji Muntaka dismissed the Minority Leader’s claims as misleading and inaccurate. He rejected suggestions that the introduction of the online, AI-powered aptitude testing system was irregular or lacked transparency.

The minister clarified that aptitude tests have long formed part of recruitment into agencies under the Ministry of the Interior. He explained that the only significant change is the transition from a manual, paper-based process to a digitized online platform aimed at enhancing transparency and eliminating human interference.

He further cautioned that the Minority Leader’s remarks were capable of creating unnecessary public anxiety, particularly among thousands of young applicants seeking employment within the security services.

Majority Seeks Privileges Committee Probe

Backing the minister’s position, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga urged the Speaker to refer Mr. Afenyo-Markin to Parliament’s Privileges Committee to substantiate the claims he made on the floor of the House.

According to him, the Minority Leader must provide evidence to support his allegations or face the consequences prescribed under parliamentary rules for misleading the House.

The speaker, Bernard Ahotor, who was in the state of affairs eventually referred the matter to the privileges committee for further inquiry.