President John Mahama has rejected claims that recent recruitment into Ghana’s security services was influenced by favouritism, stating that digital systems were deliberately introduced to promote fairness and transparency.

Speaking during an engagement with the Ghanaian community in Philadelphia on Thursday, March 26, the President explained that the use of technology was intended to address persistent concerns about bias in public sector recruitment.

“There have been longstanding complaints that recruitment is based on personal connections. This was an effort to use digitalisation to manage the initial stage of the application process. The computer does not know who you are,” he said.

He acknowledged, however, that the exercise attracted an overwhelming response, far beyond expectations.

According to him, approximately 500,000 applicants purchased vouchers, despite an initial plan to process only about 5,000 candidates.

“The intention was genuine, but the numbers exceeded our projections. Following discussions, we agreed to expand the intake, and those who had already applied will not be required to pay again,” President Mahama stated.

He further assured that lessons from the exercise would be used to refine future recruitment processes, with a continued focus on transparency and equal opportunity.

The exercise has faced scrutiny in recent weeks, particularly over the disparity between the large number of applicants and the limited available positions, highlighting broader concerns about unemployment.