The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has expressed strong concerns over the ongoing recruitment into the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies, describing key aspects of the process as unfair and potentially damaging to public confidence.
Addressing the media, GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour questioned the rationale behind requiring applicants to pay for recruitment forms despite the extremely limited number of available positions.
According to him, more than 500,000 young Ghanaians are competing for approximately 5,000 slots, a situation he described as troubling, particularly given the economic challenges facing many applicants.
“It is not appropriate for young people who are already struggling to make ends meet to be compelled to pay for forms that do not guarantee employment,” he stated.
The GJA acknowledged government efforts to address youth unemployment through expanded recruitment, commending President John Dramani Mahama for increasing intake numbers across the security services. However, the association insisted that the process must be made more inclusive and equitable.
Mr. Dwumfour called for the immediate abolition of the sale of recruitment forms, arguing that applications into public service institutions should be free to ensure equal opportunity for all qualified candidates.
Beyond cost concerns, the GJA also warned against the politicisation of recruitment into security agencies, stressing that such practices undermine professionalism and loyalty to the state.
“Security institutions must serve the nation, not political interests. Recruitment processes must be left in the hands of technocrats and security chiefs, not politicians,” he said.
The association further noted that recent recruitment exercises have attracted widespread public criticism, prompting calls for urgent reforms to restore transparency and credibility.
It urged authorities to ensure that future recruitment processes are fair, transparent and efficient, while also cautioning against the unregulated use of digital tools and artificial intelligence, which could introduce bias or exclude qualified applicants.
The GJA emphasised that addressing these concerns is critical to maintaining public trust in the security services and ensuring that recruitment processes reflect merit, integrity and national interest.
