The Minority in Parliament has accused the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) of plotting to infiltrate the security services with party loyalists and goons ahead of the 2024 general elections.
This latest accusation follows advertisements published in the Ghanaian Times and Daily Graphic newspapers on August 7th, announcing new recruitment opportunities within the Police Service, Fire Service, Prisons Service, and Immigration Service.
The recruitment exercise is, however, being limited to individuals who applied in 2021.
James Agalga, Ranking Member of the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, expressed the Minority’s concerns over the process under the Ministry of the Interior.
In a statement, the former Deputy Interior Minister alleged, “The recalcitrant behaviour of the NPP government on its quest to recruit personnel from a non-existent backlog is its ploy to recruit party vigilantes and goons into the security services, purposely to help them achieve a favourable outcome in this year’s elections.”
He emphasized that the timing of this recruitment exercise, as well as its restrictive nature, is highly questionable.
According to him, the recruitment being limited to individuals who applied in 2021 is a decision that has raised red flags, particularly as it coincides with the Minority’s petition to the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
“It came to us as a surprise to learn that the security services under the Ministry of the Interior are bent on restricting the 2024 recruitment to persons who only applied in 2021,” Agalga stated.
He added that this decision is especially troubling given that the legality of recruiting from a purported backlog is currently under scrutiny by CHRAJ.
The Minority called on the National Peace Council, international partners, and civil society organizations to intervene before the situation escalates, warning that the peace and security of the country could be at risk.
Hon. Agalga reiterated the Minority’s stance on ensuring equal access and opportunity for all Ghanaians in the recruitment process.
Agalga clarified that the Minority is not against youth recruitment into the security services but is advocating for a balanced and fair process adding, “Our objective is to guarantee equal access and opportunity to all in terms of recruitment into the services.”