The Ministry of the Interior has announced sweeping reforms to the recruitment processes for Ghana’s security services, including a strict policy that will instantly disqualify applicants who arrive early or late for their scheduled screening slots.
The changes come in the wake of a tragic stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium during a Ghana Armed Forces enlistment exercise on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, which claimed six lives and left dozens injured.
Speaking through a statement shared on social media by government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak outlined the new protocols set to take effect when the online application portal for recruitment into Ghana’s internal security services opens on Monday.
“Multiple screening centres will be established in every region, with up to 15 locations in Accra alone to prevent overcrowding,” the minister said.
“No centre will process more than 1,000 applicants per day – 500 in the morning session and 500 in the afternoon.”
Applicants will be assigned specific time slots, and the minister warned that any deviation from the schedule, whether arriving ahead of time or late, will result in automatic disqualification.
To further reduce congestion, recruitment will now follow a staggered national timetable. The Ghana Police Service will complete its screening before the Prisons Service begins, followed by the Fire Service and then Immigration – eliminating the simultaneous exercises that previously attracted thousands to single venues.
“The new system is designed to ensure an orderly, humane and efficient screening process,” the minister noted.
The reforms respond to widespread public outrage over the El-Wak incident, where desperate crowds surged through narrow entry points in a bid to secure enlistment forms.
The Ministry has urged all prospective applicants to strictly adhere to the new guidelines to avoid disqualification and ensure their safety.