Over 2,800 Ghana Armed Forces Applicants Petition President Mahama Over Cancelled Recruitment
- Over 2,800 applicants from the 2021 Ghana Armed Forces recruitment have petitioned against the cancelled process
- The applicants said they completed all stages, including vetting and medicals, but were in limbo years later
- They have urged the government to resume the recruitment process and provide clarity on the steps to follow
Over 2,800 applicants who participated in the 2021 Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise have petitioned President John Dramani Mahama and Defence Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, to reconsider the cancellation of the process.
The petition, also addressed to the Interior Minister and Parliament's Defence and Interior Committee, highlighted the plight of successful applicants who completed all stages of recruitment, including vetting and medicals, yet were still in limbo.
Source: Facebook
In the statement released on Monday, July 28, 2025, the applicants claimed they had faced uncertainty, emotional distress, and financial hardship due to the prolonged silence.
They further claimed that many of them had to decline job offers, postpone academic plans, and incur significant costs for travel, accommodation, and alleged 'processing fees'.
Consequently, the group of applicants urged the government to reassess the situation rather than discard the entire process, also seeking clarity on the way forward.
"We are not merely potential recruits; we are recruits possessing a plethora of skills in various disciplines, including computer science, automobile engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and data analysis. To elaborate, our expertise encompasses computer hardware and software, construction, machine operation, carpentry, nursing and midwifery, musical proficiency, including drumming and musicianship, plumbing, teaching, crafting, combat skills, typing, and accounting," the statement read.
Ghana Armed Forces applicants' demands in petition
The GAF applicants also listed some demands in their petition to the president. Below are the demands:
- Reconsidering the cancellation and resume the recruitment process
- Conducting a fresh medical screening if needed, to assess the current fitness of applicants
- Providing official communication regarding the next steps or the government’s position
- Investigating how the process was handled and whether applicants were treated fairly
"We believe that Ghana stands for justice, fairness, and respect for its youth. All we seek is transparency, empathy and a chance to serve our beloved country," the statement further read.
"We remain hopeful that our voices will be heard and our future restored," they added.
The post about the GAF applicants' petition is below:
GAF recruits petition to Mahama sparks reactions
The petition to President Mahama by the 2021 GAF recruitment applicants has sparked mixed reactions on social media.
Below are a few of the comments:
@HyperGist_said:
"In an event like this. I think the Ghana Armed Forces should reimburse them all the money they spent on buying those scratch cards; and any money they paid to them directly."
@Chelsea4everA also said:
"They will set aside and hire new people as if they're not Ghanaian."
@Ghanabeans commented:
"Forged by people sitting at a basement somewhere. Where did they do their processes? Where did they buy their forms?"
Source: Facebook
Government sacks recruits from security services
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that over 1,000 recruits were dismissed from Ghana's security services over irregularities in the recruitment process.
Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak said a review had showed that many recruits lacked basic qualifications or had failed medicals.
The government, under Prsident Mahama, introduced new recruitment guidelines to ensure fairness and transparency in future processes.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
