Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak halts new security recruitment for 2027

Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has announced that the recruitment portal for Ghana's security services will not be opened for new applicants in 2027. This decision, which follows a directive from President John Mahama, aims to address a significant backlog of candidates who successfully navigated the recruitment process in 2026 but were unable to begin training due to logistical constraints and limited training capacity. The government intends to prioritize these individuals to ensure that those who have already qualified are not left behind. Speaking at a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee, the Minister explained that the security services will select personnel exclusively from the existing pool of applicants who passed prior screenings. By focusing on this backlog, the ministry hopes to clear the list of qualified candidates before accepting fresh applications from the public. While the recruitment cycle is set to proceed in 2027, the exact number of personnel to be inducted and the specific timing remain contingent on obtaining the necessary financial clearance from the government. The pause on new applications comes at a time when major security agencies, particularly the Ghana Police Service, face significant personnel deficits. The service currently operates with approximately 50,000 officers, which is well below the optimal strength of 70,000 to 80,000 required to meet national security needs. The Minister highlighted that the current batch of recruits is expected to complete their training programmes by the end of December 2026, creating the necessary space for the 2026 backlog to enter training centers the following year. During the committee session, the Minister also addressed administrative concerns regarding expired financial clearances and potential age-limit issues for those waiting in the backlog. The government’s strategy is designed to ensure that those who have already invested time and resources into the 2026 recruitment cycle are not unfairly disadvantaged by administrative delays. Once the current backlog is fully absorbed, the ministry will assess remaining vacancies to determine when the portal will reopen for new public applications.