President John Dramani Mahama has directed an expansion in the recruitment of personnel into Ghana’s security services, increasing the number of recruits from 20,000 to 40,000 over a four-year period.
The directive follows growing public concerns about the ongoing security sector recruitment process.
According to a statement issued by the Presidency on Monday, March 16, 2026, the President held a high-level meeting with the heads of the security agencies, the Minister for the Interior and the Acting Minister for Defence to review the recruitment exercise.
The statement, signed by the spokesperson to the President, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said the President made the decision after receiving a detailed briefing on the process.
“Following a briefing on the process, the President has directed that the number of men and women to be recruited to the various security agencies should be increased from twenty-thousand (20,000) to forty thousand (40,000) over a four year period,” the statement said.
The President also stressed the need for integrity in the recruitment process, directing the leadership of the various security agencies to ensure fairness.
“The President has also directed the Heads of the Security Agencies to ensure transparency and fairness in the recruitment process,” the statement added.
The meeting brought together key figures in the country’s security architecture, including the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of Prisons, the Director-General of the Fire Service, the Comptroller-General of the Ghana Immigration Service and the Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission.
Also present were the Chief of Staff, the Secretary to the President, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Governmental Affairs and the National Security Coordinator.
The expansion of recruitment into the security services is expected to boost personnel strength across the agencies while addressing concerns that have emerged regarding the ongoing enlistment process.
