The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has defended the ongoing security services recruitment process, stressing that the system is designed to ensure fairness and minimise human interference in the selection of applicants.

Briefing the media on the ongoing security service recruitment on Wednesday, March 11, the minister acknowledged growing public criticism over the recruitment exercise but said a structured system was necessary to manage the large number of applicants seeking to join the security services.

According to him, the challenge facing the country is not the absence of opportunities but the high number of job seekers competing for limited positions.

"Let's say we are going to restrict this recruitment to only media people. ..From the length and breadth of this country, the media people we have are more than 5,000. What criteria are you going to use to get 5,000 out of that more than 5,000? Definitely, you have to develop something that will help.

"You may talk about how fair the thing is or how unfair it is, but what method are you going to use as a way of not using human interference? So that I look at you and say you can go. You, you are too short, you can't go. You, you are too fair, you can't go. That one is too tall. I mean, so you have to use a system that is devoid of human interference to level the system to carry you to that end," he said.

The minister noted that rigorous screening processes were also necessary to ensure that only qualified and suitable candidates are admitted into the security services.

He further disclosed that authorities have in the past encountered challenges within the services, including personnel with mental health and drug-related issues, stressing the need for strict screening procedures.

“You just don't want any person to go in. I'm sorry to say this. We are having a challenge with people with mental issues in the service. We have people with drug issues in the service.

"All these things are things that you use, and through that, some people will fall along the way to enable you to get the best of the best,” he said.

Mr. Mohammed-Mubarak acknowledged that some applicants may feel disappointed by the process but urged young people to remain calm and patient.

"This is not going to be the first and last recruitment that the government is going to be having. We are going to make sure that at least His Excellency John Dramani Mahama has said that as the economy improves, many more will be taken into the security service,” he said.