Accra, Ghana — The Ministry of the Interior has disqualified more than 6,000 applicants from the ongoing security services recruitment exercise after they failed newly expanded medical screenings.
The mass disqualifications came after laboratory tests detected illicit drug use and underlying mental health conditions among the candidates.
Speaking in an interview on Pan African TV on Saturday, May 23, 2026, the Minister for the Interior, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, disclosed that over 100,000 applicants underwent medical examinations during this recruitment cycle.
Minister Muntaka explained that the ministry intentionally expanded the medical screening process beyond traditional physical and laboratory checks. The state introduced mandatory drug testing and psychiatric evaluations due to growing concerns regarding personnel well-being and discipline within Ghana’s security agencies [5].
The data from these new metrics revealed that:
- Drug Test Failures: More than 4,000 applicants tested positive for illicit drug use.
- Mental Health Disqualifications: Approximately 2,000 applicants were flagged and disqualified on mental health grounds.
“Because of the large numbers, and because of what we have observed within the services, we introduced additional checks including mental health assessments and drug tests,” Minister Muntaka stated.
The Minister emphasized that these findings justify the stricter protocols [5]. He noted that the data highlights an urgent need to protect the integrity of national security agencies by ensuring only physically, mentally, and psychologically fit candidates are enlisted into service.
The Ministry of the Interior maintains that strict screening remains vital to preventing future misconduct and ensuring high-quality institutional performance.
