The Minority in Parliament has formally requested the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to launch an investigation into the clandestine recruitment of personnel into various security agencies. This move comes amidst allegations of a large-scale recruitment exercise, aiming to enlist 11,000 individuals from a pool of long-pending applicants, sparking concerns about transparency and fairness in the process.
The Minority caucus has expressed strong reservations about the ongoing recruitment exercise, characterizing it as opaque and discriminatory against the general Ghanaian populace. They alleged that members of the New Patriotic Party, including parliamentary candidates, are engaging in nepotistic practices by facilitating the recruitment of their loyal supporters into the security services, thereby undermining the integrity of the process.
In a petition submitted to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Minority reaffirmed its dedication to scrutinizing the government’s actions, stressing that it will exhaust all lawful avenues to prevent the “covert, unlawful, and discriminatory recruitment” into the security agencies. By doing so, the Minority demonstrates its unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and fairness in the recruitment process.”
According to James Agalga, Ranking Member on the Defense Committee, the Minority has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to mandate the publication of recruitment advertisements for public services in national newspapers. The Minority is also seeking redress from CHRAJ to compel the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Ghana Police Service (GPS), Prisons Service, and Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to disclose the specific procedures and protocols employed during the recruitment exercise, ensuring transparency and accountability.