Over 500 recruits axed from security services after probe-Muntaka

Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has stated that more than 500 individuals have been dismissed from Ghana’s security services following a government-led audit that exposed widespread irregularities in recruitment procedures surrounding the December 2024 general election.

According to the minister, a special review committee examined the records of around 5,200 personnel across several key agencies and found that hundreds failed to meet the basic entry requirements.

Speaking on Monday, July 14, 2025, at the inaugural session of the Government Accountability Series held in Accra, he gave the breakdown as follows;

Ghana Police Service – about 320 disqualified

Ghana Immigration Service – roughly 730 removed

Narcotics Control Commission – around 50 affected

The review was initiated in response to public concern over recruitment adverts published in August 2024, just months before the elections. Allegations had emerged that the previous administration used the process to favour politically connected individuals, prompting calls from the Minority in Parliament for accountability.

The audit scrutinized educational qualifications, age compliance, and medical fitness. “We found people in their forties, others with diabetes and medical issues, who somehow made it through,” Mr. Muntaka disclosed. “They had to be removed—they were not fit to serve.”

He also shared a striking case involving a Member of Parliament who lobbied for a relative during training, only for it to be discovered that the person had failed every subject in their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination—disqualifying them entirely.

Each affected individual was reportedly issued a formal letter detailing the reasons for their disqualification.

As part of efforts to restore integrity and structure to the recruitment system, Mr. Muntaka announced plans for new guidelines that will clarify roles and required qualifications. Future recruitment will include non-officer categories for trades such as mechanics, drivers, tailors, and cooks—people who will be hired strictly for those specialized tasks.

He stressed that all upcoming job adverts will clearly outline minimum criteria to ensure fairness and eliminate ambiguity in the recruitment process.

The reform comes amid growing scrutiny of Ghana’s security institutions, with concerns over professionalism and allegations of political bias gaining traction since the 2024 elections.

The recruitment audit is one of the most thorough in recent years and marks a pivotal step in the government’s agenda to professionalize the security sector.

The Government Accountability Series, launched by the Presidency, is expected to serve as a platform for ministers to share performance updates and policy directions. More briefings from other ministries are scheduled in the coming weeks.