More than 500 personnel have been dismissed from Ghana’s security services following a government audit that uncovered widespread irregularities in recruitment before and after the December 2024 general elections.
The announcement was made by Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, during the first session of the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, July 14, 2025.
According to the minister, a special committee reviewed the recruitment of about 5,200 individuals across various security agencies. The audit revealed that hundreds did not meet the basic entry requirements, including age, academic qualifications, and medical fitness.
The Ghana Police Service saw approximately 320 dismissals, making it one of the most affected institutions. The Ghana Immigration Service recorded around 730 disqualifications, while the Narcotics Control Commission dismissed about 50 recruits.
Minister Muntaka said the audit was prompted by growing public concerns about favoritism and a lack of transparency in recruitment—especially during the final months of the previous administration. The months leading up to the August 2024 elections saw a surge in recruitment ads, raising suspicions of political interference. The parliamentary Minority was particularly vocal in accusing the administration of manipulating the process for electoral gain.
The audit uncovered several alarming cases. Some recruits were in their 40s and suffering from chronic health conditions like diabetes. Others lacked the minimum academic credentials, such as a single pass in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE).
“We found people in the Police Service who were clearly unfit,” Muntaka said. “Some were medically compromised, others far above the required age limit. We had to be honest with them—they simply could not continue in the system.”
He also shared an incident in which a Member of Parliament tried to intervene on behalf of a relative nearing the end of training. Further investigation revealed the person had not passed any subjects in the SSSCE.
“They called, saying the person was about to complete training, but had zero passes in the SSSCE. That’s unacceptable,” he added. “If you don’t meet the basic requirements, you can’t be in the service.”
All those dismissed received formal letters detailing the reasons for their disqualification.
To prevent similar issues in the future, the Interior Ministry is drafting new recruitment guidelines. These will clearly define roles that don’t require academic qualifications—such as drivers, cooks, dressmakers, and painters—separating them from core security functions.
Future job postings will explicitly state the qualifications needed for each position to promote fairness, eliminate ambiguity, and restore public confidence in the recruitment process.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
Source: theghanareport.com
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