Security Recruitment: Muntaka details why over 6,000 applicants were disqualified

Minister of the Interior, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, has disclosed that more than 6,000 applicants in the ongoing security services recruitment exercise have been disqualified at the medical screening stage after testing positive for drug use or being diagnosed with mental health conditions.

Speaking in an interview with Pan African TV and sighted by GhanaWeb on May 25, 2026, he stated that over 100,000 applicants underwent medical examinations as part of the recruitment process for the various security agencies.

According to him, the Ministry of the Interior expanded the medical screening process to include drug tests and mental health assessments following growing concerns about the wellbeing and conduct of personnel within the security services.

“This exercise is to ensure that the people we recruit into the security services are mentally, physically and medically fit to serve the country effectively,” Muntaka stated.

Muntaka speaks on 'mass failure' in aptitude test for security services recruitment

He revealed that more than 4,000 applicants failed the drug tests, while about 2,000 others were disqualified on mental health grounds.

“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. Interestingly, over 4,000 people failed the drug test, and we have over 2,000 who also failed due to mental health conditions,” he indicated.

Muntaka noted that the outcome of the screening underscores the need to strengthen recruitment procedures to ensure that only qualified and medically fit individuals are enlisted into the country’s security services.

He added that the enhanced screening measures form part of efforts to improve professionalism, discipline and efficiency within the security agencies.

MRA/VPO

Afoko appeals to NPP base to back his political re-emergence