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10 Security Recruits Dismissed for Defying Mobile Phone Ban – Interior Minister
Ten recruits in Ghana’s security services training schools have been dismissed for violating a ban on mobile phone use, Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak has disclosed.
The Minister said the dismissals highlight concerns about indiscipline among some recruits and stressed the importance of obeying rules and regulations, particularly for individuals seeking careers in the security services.
Mr. Muntaka made the disclosure on August 29 while addressing students of Sakafiya Islamic Senior High School in Kumasi.
He explained that security services training is highly rigorous and that only a fraction of applicants are eventually selected.
According to him, recruits are required to surrender their mobile phones when they report to training school. However, some recruits allegedly concealed their phones and continued using them at night.
“Some of them were caught. At least, I have been written to, at least about 10 students have been dismissed from training school for holding phones,” the Minister said.
He questioned why recruits would deliberately disregard clearly established rules, attributing the behaviour partly to a lack of discipline developed during their secondary-school years.
The Minister urged students to take school rules seriously, noting that discipline and the ability to follow instructions are essential qualities for anyone hoping to join Ghana’s security services.
Over 6,000 Applicants Fail Drug and Mental Health Screening
In a related development, Mr. Muntaka revealed that more than 6,000 applicants seeking to join the security services were disqualified after failing newly introduced drug and mental health screening tests.
Speaking in an interview on Pan African TV, the Minister said more than 100,000 applicants underwent medical examinations as part of the recruitment process.
He explained that the large number of applicants, coupled with concerns identified within the security services, prompted authorities to expand the screening process to include mental health assessments and drug tests.
More than 4,000 applicants reportedly failed the drug tests, while approximately 2,000 others were disqualified following mental health assessments.
The Minister said the findings demonstrate the importance of comprehensive screening to ensure that individuals recruited into the security services are physically and mentally fit to perform their duties.
The introduction of drug and mental health assessments represents a broader approach to security recruitment, with authorities seeking to strengthen professional standards and promote the wellbeing of personnel across Ghana’s security agencies
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