The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has strongly criticized the Ghana Police Service and the current government for conducting a covert recruitment process.
According to the NDC, this secretive approach aims to fill the police force with government loyalists, which deviates from established recruitment protocols. The party asserts that this practice undermines the integrity of the police service and is unacceptable.
Last week, minority Members of Parliament revealed this clandestine recruitment. The Interior Minister, Henry Quartey, admitted to the process, justifying it as a means to address a backlog of applicants.
However, the NDC argues that this explanation falls short, highlighting that many Ghanaian youths who applied over the past four years have not been contacted, even as the screening proceeds.
The NDC further accuses the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration of systematically eroding state institutions. They claim that in addition to the secret police recruitment, the government has been appointing judges perceived to be sympathetic to their cause to the Supreme Court.
This, they argue, undermines public trust in the judiciary’s impartiality and fairness, jeopardizing the integrity of the legal system.
In their statement, the NDC calls on all eligible applicants who have applied to the Ghana Police Service in the past four years to gather at the Formed Police Unit HQ for the screening exercise.
The party emphasizes the need for transparency and fairness in the recruitment process and urges the government to adhere to principles of meritocracy and accountability to maintain the trust and security of the nation.
Read the statement below:
PRESS STATEMENT
NDC CONDEMNS ‘SECRET’ POLICE RECRUITMENT PROCESS; URGES ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS TO GATHER AT THE SCREENING VENUE!
Accra, July 14, 2024- The National Democratic Congress condemns the Ghana Police Service, led by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, and the current government, for engaging in a covert recruitment exercise to fill the service with party loyalists. This development is a departure from established recruitment procedures and is unacceptable. The government, in collaboration with its allies in the police, is trying to fill the ranks with pro-government recruits, which undermines the integrity of the service.
Last week, Members of Parliament from the Minority Group exposed this troubling development. The Minister of Interior, Henry Quartey, confirmed the secret recruitment, claiming it addresses a backlog of applicants. However, this explanation is insufficient, as thousands of Ghanaian youths who applied to the police service over the past four years remain uncontacted while screening goes on.
The Akufo Addo/Bawumia government have consistently sought to undermine our state institutions through their unscrupulous methods. In addition to the secret recruitment into the Ghana Police Service, they have been systematically appointing judges to the Supreme Court who are perceived to be sympathetic to their cause. This politicization of our judiciary erodes the public’s trust in the fairness and impartiality of our legal system.
Furthermore, illegal recruitment into the police service has serious implications for our national security. By prioritizing party loyalty over merit and competence, the government risks compromising the professionalism and effectiveness of our police force. This move endangers the very foundation of law and order in our country, making it susceptible to partisan manipulation and reducing the public’s confidence in the police.
By this statement, we urge all eligible Ghanaians, who have applied to the Ghana Police Service within the past four years to converge at the Formed Police Unit HQ and participate in the screening exercise. No group holds more claim to our nation than another; we all deserve equal opportunities.
The NDC firmly supports all eligible applicants in their desire to serve our nation. The Ghana Police Service must operate transparently and fairly, free from political manipulation. The continued undermining of our state institutions by the NPP government must be stopped to preserve the integrity and security of our nation. We demand accountability and a return to the principles of fairness, meritocracy, and transparency in all aspects of governance.
END
Signed,
George Opare Addo,
National Youth Organizer,
National Democratic Congress (NDC).
