Economic policy analyst Senyo Hosi has criticised the practice of charging application fees to young Ghanaians seeking to join the country’s security services.

He described it as exploitative and unsustainable.

His comments come after reports that more than 500,000 applicants each paid GH¢200 for a recruitment exercise expected to take in only about 5,000 people.

Speaking on Joy FM’s current affairs programme, Newsfile, Mr Hosi said the situation had become a “social problem” and called on the government to immediately stop collecting money from job seekers.

He acknowledged efforts to modernise recruitment through digital systems, including the involvement of private firms such as TribeNet.

But he argued that the current model places an unfair financial burden on applicants.

“I am not saying TribeNet should stop providing services, but the state must own the infrastructure. We cannot keep charging these children,” he said.

Mr Hosi added that rising unemployment and social pressure had sharply increased demand for security service jobs, making it necessary for government to rethink the system.

“When you see that pressure, you must adjust the model,” he said.

He also pointed to the human cost of the policy, describing families who invest heavily in their children’s education only to face additional financial barriers when seeking employment.

“These are poor people,” he said.

“A farmer struggles to send a child to university, hoping it leads to a job. The child graduates, pays recruitment fees, and if unsuccessful, returns home still dependent on the parent. What was the point?”

Mr Hosi further criticised what he described as the lack of a clear, long-term policy to address unemployment, warning that broader economic proposals would have a limited impact without tackling structural barriers.

“A 24-hour economy means nothing if you haven’t unlocked the supply chain and the human potential in this economy,” he said.

“If I am running a factory and I see demand, I will run 24 hours. But first, we need a system where a young person can actually afford to enter the workforce.”