Minister of the Interior, Henry Quartey, has dismissed accusations that he tried to bribe opposition Members of Parliament by offering them opportunities to recruit their constituents into security services.

During an interview with the media on Wednesday, August 15, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), claimed that Quartey made the offer in an attempt to silence NDC MPs who were against the recruitment of around 10,000 party supporters into the police force.

Asiedu Nketia, also known as General Mosquito, voiced serious concerns about the potential impact of such actions on the upcoming election, warning that it could threaten peace if the Interior Minister were secretly involved in these activities.

However, Mr. Quartey has strongly denied these claims.

He acknowledged informing his colleagues that recruitment portals for security services were open and advised them to inform their constituents to apply before the general announcement was made.

The Interior Minister clarified that his actions were not intended to bribe opposition MPs but were instead meant as a goodwill gesture. He emphasized that he never asked them to submit lists of their constituents, as General Mosquito had alleged.

“Of course, 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,” he said on JoyNew’s The Pulse with Kojo Braxce on Thursday.

Mr. Quartey also stated that he brought it up during a private meeting with legislators, clarifying that his intention was not to bribe anyone for any reason.

“I have not bribed any Member of Parliament by offering them two –two and all that.”

The Interior Minister emphasized that the security service is a neutral entity, and he cannot jeopardize the country's peace and stability by staffing these institutions with party loyalists.

“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,” he added.

He therefore requested that Mr. Nketiah's statement be ignored.