The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Majority in Parliament has vehemently refuted claims by the Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding recruitment slots into the security services.
The allegations, which the Caucus described as ‘baseless and preposterous,’ have already sparked controversy ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Addressing the media in Parliament on Wednesday, May 21, Deputy Majority Leader Patricia Appiagyei emphasized that no NPP parliamentary candidate or Member of Parliament has been allocated any recruitment slots into any of the security services.
“These claims are not only false but are a desperate attempt by the Minority to incite public disfavor against the government,” she said.
The allegations, initially raised by Minority leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, suggested that 276 NPP parliamentary candidates, including 138 sitting MPs, were each given 30 recruitment slots in the security agencies.
This, according to the Minority, would result in 8,250 recruits— a figure Hon. Appiagyei deemed ‘mathematically and administratively ludicrous.’
“To suggest that 8,250 new recruits could be absorbed into our security forces, in a system that traditionally accommodates between 1,000 to 1,200 recruits annually, shows a profound misunderstanding of our security institutions’ operational and financial frameworks,” Hon. Appiagyei explained.
The Asokwa MP also criticized Dr. Forson’s allegations as a deliberate distortion of reality, aimed at undermining the integrity of the government.
She said, “Such allegations serve only to provoke unwarranted tension and foster an environment of mistrust and political rivalry that our country does not need,” she stated.
Former Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, had previously outlined the government’s recruitment strategy, which focuses on giving a second chance to qualified Ghanaians who were not selected in previous recruitment processes.
According to the Deputy Majority Leader, this approach is fair and thoughtful and avoids unnecessary financial burdens on applicants.
She urged the Minority to refrain from spreading misinformation and to respect the intelligence of the Ghanaian public adding, “Such tactics are beneath the dignity of our democratic processes and could potentially endanger the peace and security of our nation.”
“We will not be swayed by these groundless accusations but will continue to work diligently to ensure the safety and security of all Ghanaians,” she assured, asserting the governing party’s commitment to fairness, transparency, and the rule of law,
Hon. Appiagyei urged all political parties and media houses to prioritize factual accuracy and contribute responsibly to the political discourse.
“Let us move forward, not with falsehoods and fear, but with facts and faith in our democratic institutions,” she added.
Majority Whip Frank Annoh Dompreh challenged the NDC to provide evidence for their allegations of improper public sector recruitment practices by the NPP government and dismissed the accusations as baseless.
He urged the NDC to substantiate their claims or retract them.
He reminded the public that during the NDC’s tenure, a freeze on public sector employment was imposed due to IMF engagements and stressed that since the NPP assumed office, there have been multiple official advertisements for recruitment, all following due process and securing necessary financial clearances.
Accusing the NDC of attempting to mislead the public and create unnecessary tension, Dompreh stressed the importance of factual and evidence-based discourse.
He stressed that the upcoming elections should be contested on facts and figures and not unfounded allegations.
He emphasized that if the NDC fails to produce concrete evidence, the NPP might explore other means to disprove the accusations and challenge the NDC to act responsibly and refrain from spreading misinformation.