Minority demands reinstatement of dismissed security personnel, full audit of terminations

Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, has issued a strong demand to President John Dramani Mahama, calling for the immediate reinstatement of recently dismissed security personnel and a comprehensive audit into the circumstances surrounding the terminations.

Speaking in an interview with Adom FM monitored by GhanaWeb, Rev Ntim Fordjour emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the handling of national security affairs.

He criticized what he described as arbitrary dismissals of personnel, warning that the scale of the terminations may be far greater than initially reported.

“I am demanding that President Mahama issue an instruction to the Minister to immediately reinstate all security personnel who have been terminated,” he stated. “We are demanding that there must be a full audit of the people who have been terminated. For all you know, they are even 2,000 or 3,000 and not 1,500 as has been put out.”

The lawmaker expressed concern about the lack of clarity and due process in the dismissals, arguing that every personnel deserves a fair hearing before any punitive action is taken.

“If the Minister thinks there is a basis for someone to be dismissed, they should bring us the evidence before the person is terminated,” Rev Ntim Fordjour added.

The call comes amid growing tension over reported widespread dismissals within the country’s security services.

Background

According to the Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, a government review conducted by a special committee of the records of more than 500 recruits into the various security services before and after the 2024 general elections has resulted in their dismissal.

He disclosed that Irregularities were discovered in the recruitment of the men and women into the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service and the Narcotic Control Commission (NACOC), during the maiden Government Accountability Series on Monday, July 15, 2025.

He said a special committee reviewed the records of about 5,200 new recruits across the various services and discovered that hundreds of them did not satisfy the entry requirement.

According to the interior minister, the affected security agencies included the Ghana Police Service, which saw about 320 disqualified; the Ghana Immigration Service where some 730 were removed; and the Narcotics Control Commission, which had about 50 affected.

"We were able to get out about 320 who were not supposed to be there. Some were in their forties, diabetic, and medically unfit, but they were picked. We had to explain to them that with their situation, they could not remain in the service," he stated.

The minister said the vetting looked at academic qualifications, age, and medical fitness.

He also cited an instance a Member of Parliament intervened on behalf of a relative. However, upon closer review, it was discovered that the individual had not passed a single subject in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE), which was a minimum requirement for entry.

“They called and said the person didn’t pass SSSCE, didn’t even record one subject. Once you don’t meet the basic qualification, you have to go," he stated.

According to him, all affected officers were offered written explanations.

“We are demanding for the reinstatement of all the security personnel who have had their appointments terminated by this Government” — Rev. @NtimFordjour pic.twitter.com/JpcuIZHufU

— Gen. Buhari (@Gen_Buhari_) July 18, 2025