Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak Mohammed has revealed that several recruits have been dismissed from security services training schools after checks showed that the WASSCE results they used to gain admission had been forged or doctored.
The Minister said the fraudulent results were uncovered after documents submitted by recruits were forwarded to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for verification.
Speaking at a ceremony to open new classroom facilities at the Asokore Mampong Roman Catholic School, Alhaji Muntaka warned prospective applicants against falsifying academic records to secure positions in Ghana’s security services.
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According to him, the government has intensified the verification of academic credentials submitted by applicants, making it increasingly difficult for individuals with fraudulent certificates or results slips to gain entry into the services.
“It’s so shocking that a lot of people forged their results. I don’t know how they think that they will be employed in the Police, Prisons, Immigration, Fire Service, Narcotics Control Commission, or Armed Forces, and the certificate you present won’t be checked,” he said.
WAEC verification
The Interior Minister disclosed that the verification process had already led to the dismissal of several recruits who were found to have manipulated their WASSCE results.
“As we speak, many have been dismissed from the training because they have doctored their results slips,” he added.
He explained that applicants who successfully gain admission into the security services undergo checks to establish the authenticity of the academic credentials they presented during recruitment.
The discovery of forged results, he said, demonstrates the importance of verifying qualifications before recruits are allowed to continue with their training.
Warning to applicants
Alhaji Muntaka warned prospective applicants to ensure they meet the required academic qualifications before applying to join any of Ghana’s security services.
He said individuals who deliberately submit falsified academic documents risk not only losing their places in training but also facing further sanctions.
The Minister disclosed that recruits who forged their WASSCE results would be placed on a red list to prevent them from applying to join any of the country’s security services in the future.
Prosecution could also follow depending on the circumstances of each case.
The Interior Minister’s warning covers applicants seeking to join the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Narcotics Control Commission and the Ghana Armed Forces.
He urged prospective applicants to rely on genuine academic qualifications and satisfy all recruitment requirements rather than attempting to manipulate their results.
The latest revelation highlights the government’s increased emphasis on credential verification as part of efforts to ensure that only qualified applicants are admitted into Ghana’s security services.