Recruitment for security services: Ntim Fordjour charges the Interior Ministry with cheating applicants of more over GH¢100 million.
The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has accused the Ministry for the Interior of making over GH¢100 million in profit from Ghanaian youth through the ongoing security service recruitment exercise.
This follows the disclosure by the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, that although approximately 105,000 young people have successfully passed to the medical stage of the recruitment, only 5,000 positions are actually available.
Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story on Wednesday, March 11, Rev. Fordjour described the entire process as “the biggest recruitment scam.” He explained that rather than being upfront about the severely limited slots, the ministry deliberately raised the age limit to 35, a decision he described as politically motivated.
According to the MP, more than 500,000 youths applied for the exercise, with each paying a non-refundable fee of GH¢200, even though only 5,000 vacancies exist.
“You have milked over GH¢100 million into the ministry’s coffers when you know very well that only 5,000 spaces exist. That in itself is fraudulent,” he charged.
Rev. Fordjour warned that the ministry is now compelled to introduce artificial barriers to eliminate the vast majority of applicants, leaving thousands of young people deeply frustrated and disappointed.
“It is not just NPP supporters who are angry. NDC foot soldiers are angry, and even non-politically affiliated youth are outraged. All 500,000 applicants are being unfairly squeezed,” he said.
The Ranking Member has therefore demanded the immediate refund of all application fees paid by the youth. He insisted that only after these refunds are processed should the Ministry proceed to select candidates for the available positions and legitimately collect fees from those who are eventually successful.
“This is a matter of accountability and fairness. The Ministry of Interior must take responsibility for misleading the youth and ensure transparency in this recruitment exercise,” he stressed.
Editor:
Obiri-Yeboah
