Henry Osei Akoto, a member of the National Democratic Congress, has described the Presidency’s directive to double recruitment into the country’s security services as a swift and decisive move.
The directive, issued on March 16, 2026, followed a high level meeting between the President and heads of the various security agencies. It aims to significantly increase the number of personnel recruited into institutions such as the police, immigration, fire service and prisons service.
Reacting to the development, Osei Akoto said the decision demonstrates the government’s commitment to addressing concerns surrounding recent recruitment challenges. According to him, the move is a positive step toward providing opportunities for the large number of young people who applied for positions in the security services.
He noted that thousands of applicants had expressed interest in joining the security agencies, but only a limited number of slots were initially available. The directive to expand recruitment, he said, would help ease frustration among applicants and create more employment opportunities for the youth.
Osei Akoto also emphasised that increasing recruitment could strengthen the country’s security architecture by ensuring that agencies are adequately staffed to respond to emerging threats and maintain public safety.
The decision comes amid ongoing national discussions about recruitment into the security services, with many young Ghanaians seeking stable employment in the sector. The overwhelming number of applications received during recent recruitment exercises highlighted the growing demand for government jobs.
While welcoming the directive, Osei Akoto urged authorities to ensure that the expanded recruitment process remains transparent and merit based. He stressed that fairness and due process must guide the selection of candidates to maintain public confidence in the system.
He further encouraged government to continue implementing policies that address youth unemployment more broadly, noting that sustainable job creation across different sectors is essential for long term economic stability.
The Presidency’s directive is expected to influence upcoming recruitment exercises and reshape how security agencies absorb new personnel in the coming months.
