By Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Minority Caucus in Ghana’s Parliament has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate what they described as “secret recruitment into the various security agencies” which they say is currently ongoing.
The petition follows reports of a planned recruitment of 11,000 personnel from a backlog of applicants over the years.
The Minority caucus recently raised concerns about the recruitment exercise, labeling it as secretive and unfair to the larger Ghanaian public.
They also accused Members of Parliament of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), including parliamentary candidates, of facilitating the recruitment of their loyalists into the security services.
In a petition to CHRAJ dated July 16, the Minority reiterated its commitment to vigilance, emphasizing that it will employ every legitimate means to stop the “secret, illegal, and unfair recruitment”.
“The Minority in Parliament has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the ongoing secret, unequal, and unfair recruitments by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government into the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Ghana Police Service (GPS), Ghana Prisons Service and the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC).”
The Minority is petitioning CHRAJ to direct that advertisements for recruitment into public services be published in national newspapers.
Additionally, the Minority is seeking relief from CHRAJ to order the GIS GNFS, GPS, Prisons, and NACOC to provide details of the processes and procedures adopted in the recruitment exercise.
“We pray for the following remedies/reliefs after the Commission investigates this complaint: 1. as means of ensuring equal access to all, the security services and other administrative organs of the state, including the Respondent (GIS, GNFS, GPS, Prisons and NACOC) and indeed, the Customs, Excise and Preventive Services CEPS, CHRAJ should direct that recruitments into these Public Services should be effected through public advertisements in the national newspapers/dailies setting out eligibility criteria for potential applicants/candidates for such recruitments.
Concerning applicants/candidates already shortlisted or being prepared for recruitments based on a purported backlog as announced per “The Chronicle” publication on the 80 July. 2024 as well as the CPS and Prisons Press Release of 7th July, 2023. CHRAJ should direct the GIS. GNFS, GPS, Prisons, and NACOC to provide details of the process and procedures adopted by them in line with the Constitution as well as Section 7(a)(b) of Act 456.
Any other remedies/reliefs that CHRAJ may deem fair and just to ensure transparency and equal access to security services, particularly the GIS, GNFS, GPS Prisons, and NACOC in terms of recruitment.” Portions of the petition read.
