The Minority Caucus in Parliament has accused the government of orchestrating what it describes as the largest recruitment scam in the country’s recent history, following revelations that only 5,000 applicants will be recruited from more than 506,000 individuals who applied to join Ghana’s security services.
Addressing the media, the Minority expressed deep concern about the transparency, fairness, and integrity of the recruitment process, claiming the exercise appears designed to exploit unemployed Ghanaian youth.
According to the Caucus, the recruitment drive was widely promoted as part of a campaign promise ahead of the 2024 elections, encouraging thousands of young people to apply for positions in the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, and the Ghana Prisons Service under the Ministry of Interior.
More than 506,000 applicants reportedly responded to the call in 2025, hoping to secure employment and serve the country. However, the situation changed dramatically after the Interior Minister announced at a press conference that only 5,000 applicants would ultimately be recruited.
Applicants left shocked
The Minority says the announcement has left hundreds of thousands of applicants devastated and disillusioned.
They questioned why the government would encourage such a large number of young people to apply if only a small fraction would eventually be selected.
“If the government intended to recruit only 5,000 personnel, why should it lure over 506,000 unsuspecting young people into going through a costly and emotionally exhausting process?” the Caucus asked.
The group also criticized the government’s decision to increase the recruitment age limit to 35 years, arguing that the move encouraged even more unemployed youth to apply under the belief that more positions were available.
Concerns over application fees
The Minority further raised concerns about the financial burden placed on applicants.
According to the statement, each applicant was required to pay a GHC220 application fee, which means the recruitment process generated approximately GHC111.32 million from the more than 506,000 applications received.
They also alleged that the internet-based aptitude test used in the recruitment process was plagued with technical difficulties that caused many applicants to be disqualified due to connectivity issues and timeouts.
Calls for investigation and refunds
The Minority Caucus says it cannot remain silent while hundreds of thousands of Ghanaian youth feel exploited by what it describes as a flawed recruitment exercise.
As a result, the group is calling for urgent action, including:
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An independent bipartisan parliamentary investigation into the centralised recruitment process.
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A refund of the GHC220 application fee to applicants who were disqualified during the recruitment process.
The Caucus insists that the integrity of national recruitment systems must be protected to ensure fairness, transparency, and trust in government institutions.
The government has yet to respond to the allegations raised by the Minority.
