Over 400,000 applicants jostle for just 5,000 slots in security services recruitment

The Ministry of the Interior has announced that only 5,000 applicants will be absorbed into Ghana’s security services this year, despite over 400,000 applications received and more than 105,000 candidates successfully passing the initial aptitude tests.

Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, disclosed the figures to journalists in Parliament on Wednesday following parliamentary proceedings, painting a stark picture of the intense competition facing young Ghanaians seeking careers in the security agencies.

According to the Minister, the total applicant pool comprised 75,000 tertiary graduates and 330,000 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) holders. Following online aptitude tests conducted as part of the recruitment process, over 105,000 candidates have qualified to proceed to the medical screening stage.

“We still have 105,000 who have qualified for medicals. In reality, the total number we can take after medicals is 5,000, so we still face a huge challenge,” Mr Mohammed-Mubarak stated.

The Minister attributed the limited intake to current fiscal constraints facing the nation, explaining that the government’s ongoing programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) restricts the number of recruits that can be absorbed onto the public payroll.

However, he brought a message of hope to the thousands of qualified candidates who may miss out this year, revealing that President John Dramani Mahama has directed that the data of all successful applicants be retained for future recruitment exercises.

“But the President has instructed that those who qualify and pass medicals, let’s keep their data. This is the first phase. The current recruitment is for 2025. Hopefully, when we are out of the IMF programme, we will conduct the 2026 recruitment and draw from the same pool of applicants,” he assured.

The Interior Minister appealed to applicants who may not secure placement in the current exercise to remain patient, emphasising the government’s commitment to creating more opportunities for young people seeking to join the security services once economic conditions improve.

Another recruitment exercise is anticipated in 2026, when Ghana is projected to have completed its economic programme with the IMF, potentially allowing for a larger intake of qualified personnel into the various security agencies.