The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak Mohammed, has disclosed that at least 10 recruits have been dismissed from Ghana’s security services training schools for violating a directive prohibiting the use of mobile phones during training.
According to the Interior Minister, the affected recruits secretly kept their mobile phones despite being required to surrender their devices when they reported to the training institutions.
He said the dismissals are part of measures to enforce discipline and ensure that recruits comply with the rules and regulations governing training in Ghana’s security services.
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Muntaka Mubarak made the disclosure when he interacted with students of Sakafiya Islamic Senior High School in Kumasi, where he spoke about recruitment into the security services and the standards expected of prospective personnel.
The Interior Minister expressed concern about indiscipline among some recruits, particularly those who attempt to circumvent established rules after gaining admission to security services training schools.
He explained that recruits are required to surrender their mobile phones upon reporting for training, but some allegedly concealed their devices and continued using them secretly.
According to Muntaka, some recruits hid their phones in their pillows and used them to make calls at night.
“It was so vigorous that over half a million people applied. We ended up taking only 10,000. Indisciplined people got there, and they were hiding their phones in their pillows,” he said.
“At least, I have been written to that at least about 10 students have been dismissed from training school for holding phones,” he said.
Muntaka also disclosed that the latest recruitment exercise for Ghana’s security services attracted more than 500,000 applicants, highlighting the intense competition for available positions.
However, only about 10,000 applicants were selected for training, meaning a small proportion of those who applied eventually secured places.
The Minister said the high number of applicants demonstrates the strong interest among young Ghanaians in pursuing careers in the country’s security services.
He stressed, however, that successful applicants must recognise that admission into a security services training institution comes with significant responsibilities.
According to the Interior Minister, recruits are expected to demonstrate discipline and respect for institutional rules throughout their training.
He warned that attempts to circumvent regulations could have serious consequences, including dismissal from training.
The latest dismissals underscore the government’s emphasis on discipline as Ghana trains personnel for the various security services.
Muntaka urged prospective and current recruits to take the rules governing their training seriously and understand that discipline is a fundamental requirement for anyone seeking to serve in Ghana’s security services.