More than 500 individuals have been removed from Ghana’s security services following a government review that uncovered irregularities in recruitment processes conducted before and after the December 2024 general election.

The announcement was made by the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, on Monday, July 14, 2025, during the maiden edition of the Government Accountability Series in Accra.

According to the Minister, a special committee reviewed the records of approximately 5,200 recruits across key security agencies and discovered that hundreds did not meet the basic entry requirements.

The affected institutions include:

• Ghana Police Service – about 320 disqualified
• Ghana Immigration Service – roughly 730 removed
• Narcotics Control Commission – around 50 affected

Mr. Muntaka explained that the review was prompted by public outcry over alleged irregularities in recruitment advertisements released in August 2024, just months before the elections. The Minority in Parliament had accused the previous administration of manipulating the process to favour political loyalists.

The audit examined academic qualifications, age limits, and medical fitness.

“We were able to get out about 320 who were not supposed to be there,” Mr. Muntaka said, referring to the Police Service. “Some were in their forties, diabetic, and medically unfit, but they were picked. We had to explain to them that with their condition, they could not remain in the service.”

He also recounted an incident involving a Member of Parliament who lobbied for a relative close to completing training. Upon further scrutiny, it was discovered the individual had failed all subjects in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE), which is the minimum academic requirement for entry.

“They called and said the person didn’t pass SSSCE—didn’t even record a single subject,” Mr. Muntaka noted. “Once you don’t meet the basic qualification, you have to go.”

He assured that each affected person received a written explanation for their removal.

To restore fairness and transparency, the Minister announced plans for new recruitment guidelines that clearly define technical and support roles.

Future recruitment will include non-academic positions for tradespeople such as drivers, dressmakers, cooks, and painters—but those selected will be recruited solely for those roles.

“I know people who went to vocational school and became dressmakers. The services need them to sew uniforms,” he said. “But they must know they’re being recruited as artisans, not officers.”

He emphasized that future job advertisements will clearly outline job roles and minimum qualifications to avoid confusion and ensure public confidence in the process.

Since the 2024 elections, concerns over professionalism and political interference within Ghana’s security services have intensified.

The emergence of reports about so-called “party foot soldiers” being enlisted into the services heightened calls for reform during the transition period.

The current recruitment audit is among the most comprehensive in recent years and forms part of the government’s broader effort to raise standards within the security sector.

The Government Accountability Series, introduced by the Presidency, aims to provide regular updates on ministerial performance and governance. Other ministers are expected to present their briefings in the coming weeks.