At least 10 recruits have been dismissed from Ghana’s security services training institutions for violating a directive prohibiting the use of mobile phones during training.
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak Mohammed, disclosed that the affected recruits were caught secretly keeping and using mobile phones despite instructions requiring them to surrender their devices upon reporting to the training schools.
According to the Minister, the dismissals form part of efforts to enforce discipline and ensure that recruits comply with the rules and regulations governing their training.
Muntaka Mubarak made the disclosure when he interacted with students of Sakafiya Islamic Senior High School in Kumasi, where he spoke about the recruitment process into Ghana’s security services and the standards expected of prospective recruits.
He expressed concern about indiscipline among some recruits, particularly those who attempt to circumvent institutional rules after gaining admission to the training schools.
The Minister explained that recruits are required to hand over their mobile phones when they arrive at the training institutions. However, some allegedly concealed their devices in places such as their pillows and continued using them secretly at night.
“It was so vigorous that over half a million people applied. We ended up taking only 10,000. Indiscipline, people got there and they were hiding their phones in their pillows. First, the moment you get to training school, they take all your phones,” he said.
He added that some recruits were caught making calls with the concealed phones.
“Some decided to hide their phones and in the night, they were making calls. Some of them were caught. At least, I have been written to that at least about 10 students have been dismissed from training school for holding phones,” he added.
Over 500,000 Applicants
The Interior Minister also revealed that the latest security services recruitment exercise attracted more than 500,000 applicants, highlighting the intense competition for places in the various training institutions.
However, only about 10,000 applicants were eventually selected for training.
Muntaka Mubarak said the high number of applicants reflects the strong interest among young Ghanaians in pursuing careers in the country’s security services.
He stressed that successful applicants must recognise that admission into a security training institution comes with significant responsibilities and requires strict adherence to rules and regulations.
The Minister said discipline remains an essential part of preparing recruits for service, adding that those who deliberately violate institutional directives risk facing serious consequences, including dismissal.
