The Interior Minister, Henry Quartey, has categorically denied allegations of attempting to bribe National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament by offering them slots to recruit their constituents into the security services.
This follows claims by the National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, that the Interior Minister made the offer to the minority to silence their opposition.
Asiedu Nketia expressed deep concerns about Quartey’s actions, which he believes could have severe implications for the upcoming elections.
According to Quartey, he merely informed his colleagues about the opening of the recruitment portals for the security services and advised them to pass the information on to their constituents.
He emphasised that he had no intention of bribing the NDC MPs.
“MPs have got constituents who may have also bought forms. Is it wrong to say that if there are forms, they should go through the same process? I am not saying that bring me files so I can put you there. So this statement, first of all, let me say categorically that I did not bribe any Member of Parliament. I have not bribed any Member of Parliament by offering them two –two and all that,” Mr Quartey said during an interview on JoyNew on Thursday, August 15.
He also emphasised that he would not compromise the country’s peace and security by filling the security services with party members.
“We don’t have political police, political soldiers, and political fire. Why do I say so? I have always made this statement and asked them [security agencies] to come and speak to it, which they have not done.”
There were reports of a planned recruitment of 11,000 personnel from a backlog of applicants over the years.
The Minority caucus recently raised concerns about the recruitment exercise, labelling it as secretive and unfair to the larger Ghanaian public.
They also accused members of the New Patriotic Party, including parliamentary candidates, of facilitating the recruitment of their loyalists into the security services.
