Several people recruited into Ghana’s security services have been dismissed from training after verification checks uncovered forged or doctored WASSCE results, Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak Mohammed has revealed.
The minister said the affected recruits submitted falsified academic documents during the recruitment process but were exposed when their certificates and results slips were forwarded to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for verification.
According to Alhaji Muntaka, those dismissed could face further consequences, including being permanently barred from future recruitment into Ghana’s security services.
He said the affected individuals would be placed on a “red list” to ensure they are unable to apply again to join institutions such as the Police Service, Prisons Service, Immigration Service and Ghana National Fire Service.
Management of the various security agencies is also considering prosecution in cases where applicants are found to have deliberately falsified their academic records.
“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.
“As we speak, many have been dismissed from the training because they have doctored their results slips.”
The minister expressed concern that individuals seeking employment in institutions responsible for enforcing Ghana’s laws would resort to fraudulent means to gain entry.
He was speaking at a ceremony to commission new classroom facilities at the Asokore Mampong Roman Catholic School.
His warning comes amid increased scrutiny of recruits undergoing training for Ghana’s security services, with authorities taking action against individuals who breach recruitment or training requirements.
Recently, Alhaji Muntaka disclosed that at least 10 recruits had been dismissed for violating a directive prohibiting the possession of mobile phones during training.
The recruits were reportedly found to have secretly kept their phones despite instructions to surrender the devices when they reported to their respective training institutions.
The Interior Minister urged prospective applicants to carefully assess their qualifications before submitting applications to join any of the security services.
He cautioned that anyone who attempts to gain entry using fraudulent academic credentials risks not only losing their place in training but also facing additional sanctions after their documents are subjected to verification.
The minister’s comments highlight the increasing reliance on verification checks to detect fraudulent credentials before applicants can complete their training and become members of Ghana’s security services.
