The Minority in Parliament has criticised the ongoing recruitment exercise into Ghana’s security services, describing it as a “Ponzi scheme” that exploits unemployed youth by attracting far more applicants than the available positions.
Speaking at a press conference on March 12, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, John Ntim Fordjour, argued that the recruitment structure appears deliberately designed to draw in large numbers of applicants despite limited vacancies.
His comments follow remarks by Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, who disclosed that nearly 500,000 young Ghanaians applied for recruitment across various security agencies, even though financial clearance has been granted for only about 5,000 positions.
More than 506,000 applicants responded to the recruitment call for agencies under the Interior Ministry, including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Prisons Service. However, many candidates have already been disqualified after aptitude tests, sparking frustration among applicants nationwide.
Rev. Fordjour said the recruitment drive had generated significant interest partly because the National Democratic Congress had highlighted job creation within the security services during the 2024 election campaign.
He questioned why such a large number of applicants were encouraged to apply if the government planned to recruit only a small fraction of them, arguing that the situation has left many young people feeling disappointed and misled.
The Assin South MP also criticised the government’s decision to increase the recruitment age limit from 25 to 35 years, stating that the move created the impression of broader opportunities and contributed to the surge in applications.