, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has assured party members that the ongoing recruitment exercise into the various security services will be conducted fairly, despite the limited number of available positions.){kind=link}
The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has assured party members that the ongoing recruitment exercise into the various security services will be conducted fairly, despite the limited number of available positions.
According to him, although the government cannot employ all applicants, efforts are being made to ensure that the process remains transparent and does not discriminate against members of the ruling party.
Speaking to party supporters, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah explained that the recruitment exercise has become extremely competitive due to the large number of unemployed youth seeking opportunities in the security services.
He disclosed that more than 500,000 young people have applied to join the Ghana Police Service alone, but the government has the capacity to recruit only about 5,000 personnel.
In a lighthearted remark while addressing the issue, he said, “About 500,000 people want to join the police. If we employ all of them, where would they find thieves to arrest, since everyone would be in the police service?”
Mr. Asiedu Nketiah further explained that the government must consider its financial capacity before expanding recruitment.
“If you are the president and 500,000 people want to join the police, what can you do? Once you issue an appointment letter, you must pay the officer. Looking at our capacity, we can only recruit 5,000,” he said.
He noted that the high number of applicants reflects the prolonged lack of employment opportunities for many young people, which has increased pressure on the government to create jobs.
The NDC chairman also expressed confidence that the current Inspector General of Police would ensure fairness throughout the recruitment process.
According to him, the IGP, who was appointed by the government, would not discriminate against members of the NDC seeking to join the security services.
He also acknowledged the challenges faced by the Interior Minister in managing the recruitment exercise due to the overwhelming number of applicants.
The ongoing centralized recruitment into the Police, Immigration, Fire and Prisons Services has recently generated public debate after reports indicated that many applicants failed the aptitude test.
Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has since explained that the standards for the aptitude test were intentionally raised to limit the number of successful candidates, as the government cannot absorb all applicants into the services.
The recruitment exercise forms part of efforts by the government to strengthen the country’s security services while managing the growing demand for employment among the youth.