Investigation underway into recent Armed Forces recruitment processes – Mahama

President John Mahama has announced the establishment of a board of inquiry to investigate alleged irregularities in recent Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercises.

This forms part of the steps in fulfilling his administration’s pledge to reform security sector recruitment processes.

Speaking at the Jubilee House during his 120-day progress update on the Social Contract with Ghanaians, the President revealed comprehensive measures to eliminate militia influence and politicisation in security agencies.

“We promised to commence investigative processes into security agencies to pay state security agencies of militia and vigilante elements and enhance professionalism,” Mahama stated, underscoring his government’s commitment to institutional reform.

The newly constituted board of inquiry has been tasked with examining recent military recruitment exercises, with President Mahama emphasizing its mandate to “investigate recent recruitment processes aiming to uncover discrepancies and implement corrective measures.”

This move follows persistent allegations of political interference and unfair practices in security sector enlistment under previous administrations.

As part of sweeping reforms, the government is implementing a multi-layered vetting system.

“Robust background checks are ongoing for all recruits and serving personnel,” the President announced, adding that a new biometric database is being introduced to cross-reference personnel against national criminal and security intelligence records.

This system, President Mahama explained, will serve as a safeguard by “automatically disqualifying applicants linked to political vigilante networks,” with the ultimate goal to “decentralize and depoliticize recruitments.”

The administration is complementing these structural changes with ideological retraining programs. “Mandatory ideological reorientation sessions are planned to reinforce military neutrality, national unity and loyalty to the state and the Constitution,” Mr Mahama added.

These reforms extend beyond the military, with the President noting that “similar processes are underway across other security agencies, including the police, fire service and prison services.”