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More than 6,000 applicants have been disqualified from Ghana’s ongoing security services recruitment exercise following the introduction of new drug and mental health screening tests, Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak has revealed.
Speaking in an interview on Pan African TV on Saturday, the Minister explained that over 100,000 applicants underwent medical examinations as part of the recruitment process. The large number of candidates prompted authorities to expand screenings beyond routine physical and laboratory checks.
“We have over 100,000 people who went through the medicals. Because of the large numbers, and because of what we have observed within the services, we introduced additional checks including mental health assessments and drug tests,” he said.
The results were significant. Over 4,000 applicants failed the drug tests, while roughly 2,000 were disqualified on mental health grounds. “Interestingly, over 4,000 people failed the drug test, and we have over 2,000 who also failed due to mental health conditions,” Mr. Muntaka added.
The Minister emphasized that the findings highlight the importance of comprehensive screening to ensure that only physically and mentally fit candidates are enlisted into the security services, particularly amid rising concerns about personnel wellbeing in the sector.
The inclusion of mental health and drug assessments represents a major shift in Ghana’s security recruitment process, reflecting a broader commitment to raising standards across the country’s security agencies.
Story by Efua Nessa