The National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has ended the practice of politically influenced recruitment into Ghana’s security services, party National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia has said.
Speaking during his thank you tour in Sekondi Takoradi, Western Region, Asiedu Nketia confirmed that President John Dramani Mahama has implemented a merit based system where competence and qualification, not political connections, determine entry into security agencies.
The party chairman said recruitment into the security services this year took place in every regional capital, promoting fairness, transparency and regional balance. He noted that the days of recruiting people based on their surnames are over.
“We will make sure that our security services are properly balanced, even regionally,” Asiedu Nketia said. “We are departing from a system where people are recruited based on their surnames to ensure that the services are truly representative and professional.”
The policy shift follows longstanding criticism of protocol recruitment, where political connections and party affiliation influenced entry into the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service and Ghana Prisons Service.
During the previous administration, the NDC accused the Interior Minister of attempting to offer recruitment slots to opposition Members of Parliament in exchange for silence on what the party described as mass recruitment of party foot soldiers into the police service.
Asiedu Nketia revealed during an interview in August 2024 that he had advised NDC MPs to reject such offers. The party subsequently petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on the matter.
The new merit based approach prioritizes qualified and competent individuals regardless of political affiliation. Regional balance has been identified as a key component to ensure that security services reflect Ghana’s diversity and strengthen national cohesion.
Security analysts have welcomed the shift toward transparent recruitment, arguing that professionalism within security agencies depends on selecting candidates based on capability rather than connections.
The decentralization of recruitment to regional capitals is designed to reduce barriers for qualified candidates from remote areas who previously faced difficulty traveling to Accra for assessments. The measure is expected to improve accessibility and expand the pool of qualified applicants.
Asiedu Nketia stressed that the NDC government remains committed to building credible and transparent recruitment systems across all public institutions. He indicated that similar reforms would extend beyond security services to other sectors of the civil service.
The chairman said anyone entrusted with public office must work diligently for the people, emphasizing that any reshuffles would be based strictly on performance, not loyalty. He added that the reduction in the number of ministers reflects the NDC’s commitment to cutting waste and restoring discipline in government.
Political observers note that the recruitment reforms align with broader governance changes introduced by the Mahama administration, including increased accountability measures and efforts to reduce political interference in public institutions.
The policy has generated positive response from youth groups and civil society organizations that have long advocated for equal opportunity in public sector recruitment. They argue that merit based systems will improve service delivery and restore public confidence in security agencies.
Implementation of the new recruitment framework is being monitored closely, with stakeholders calling for sustained commitment to ensure that political influence does not creep back into the process through informal channels.
