More than 500 individuals have been dismissed from Ghana’s security services following a nationwide audit that revealed widespread irregularities in the recruitment process conducted ahead of the December 2024 general elections.
The announcement was made by the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, during the inaugural Government Accountability Series held on Monday, July 14, 2025, in Accra.
The Minister disclosed that a government-commissioned audit panel reviewed the recruitment of approximately 5,200 personnel across various security agencies, including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, and the Narcotics Control Commission.
The audit uncovered that hundreds of recruits had gained entry into the services despite failing to meet essential eligibility criteria, such as academic qualifications, age limits, and medical fitness requirements.
Agencies Affected:
- Ghana Police Service: About 320 disqualified
- Ghana Immigration Service: Roughly 730 removed
- Narcotics Control Commission: Around 50 affected
According to Mr. Muntaka, the audit followed public complaints and political concerns surrounding recruitment adverts circulated in August 2024. Allegations had surfaced that the recruitment was politically motivated, with claims that party loyalists were being rewarded under the guise of expanding the security sector.
Violations Cited
Mr. Muntaka detailed that disqualified individuals included persons well over the age requirement, others with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, and some who failed to meet the minimum academic standards.
“We were able to get out about 320 who were not supposed to be there,” the Minister said in reference to the Police Service. “Some were in their forties, diabetic, and medically unfit, but they were picked.”
He also cited an instance where an MP had lobbied for a relative who had failed all subjects in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE), which is the basic qualification required for recruitment. “They didn’t even record a single subject,” he said. “Once you don’t meet the basic qualification, you have to go.”
Each individual affected by the audit received a written explanation outlining the reason for their dismissal.
New Recruitment Protocols
To address the irregularities, the Interior Minister announced the introduction of new recruitment guidelines to distinguish clearly between officer roles and technical or support functions.
Future recruitment will include roles for skilled artisans—such as drivers, cooks, painters, and dressmakers—who will be hired specifically for technical services and not as commissioned officers.
“I know people who went to vocational school and became dressmakers. The services need them to sew uniforms,” the Minister said. “But they must know they’re being recruited as artisans, not officers.”
All future recruitment advertisements will be required to clearly outline the nature of the role, academic requirements, physical qualifications, and other relevant criteria. The move is aimed at restoring public confidence in the security services recruitment process and preventing future breaches.
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