Mahama increases security services recruitment target to 40,000

President John Dramani Mahama has ordered a significant expansion of recruitment into Ghana’s security services, raising the target from 20,000 to 40,000 personnel over the next four years.

The directive followed a high-level meeting involving the heads of the various security agencies, the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, and the Acting Minister for Defence, Cassiel Ato Forson.

The engagement was convened to assess progress on the ongoing recruitment exercise and review strategies for strengthening the country’s security framework.

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According to an official statement released on Monday, March 16, the president was briefed on the current status of recruitment before directing an increase in the intake to enhance manpower across the services.

The move is intended to reinforce national security operations and improve institutional capacity.

President Mahama further stressed the importance of transparency, fairness, and merit-based selection in the recruitment process.

He urged security agency leadership to ensure that all qualified applicants are given equal opportunity in line with established procedures.

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The meeting included senior officials such as the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah; the Secretary to the President; the Senior Presidential Advisor on Governmental Affairs; and the National Security Coordinator.

Also present were the heads of the security institutions, including the Inspector-General of the Ghana Police Service, Christian Tetteh Yohunu; the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Patience Baffoe-Bonnie; the Director-General of the Ghana National Fire Service; the Comptroller-General of the Ghana Immigration Service, Samuel Amadu; and the Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission.

The expanded recruitment initiative is expected to strengthen personnel levels across the security agencies while creating additional employment opportunities for young Ghanaians interested in serving in the sector.