Security Services Recruitment: Captain Smart Discloses Why Only 5,000 Can Be Employed

Security Services Recruitment: Captain Smart Discloses Why Only 5,000 Can Be Employed

  • Captain Smart has explained why the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government can only employ 5,000 people in the security services
  • The Minister of Interior, Honourable Muntaka Mubarak, sparked outrage after announcing that more than 90% of over 500,000 applicants would be rejected
  • Captain Smart’s explanation of what forced the government to employ only a limited number of people sparked mixed reactions on social media

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Controversial Ghanaian media personality Captain Smart has explained why the government of Ghana can employ only 5,000 people in the security services this year.

Ghana security services recruitment, Ghana Immigration Service announcement, Captain Smart explanation, Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak, IMF agreement impact, Ghana Police Service recruitment
Captain Smart details the key reason why the government can only employ 5,000 people into the security services. Image credit: @captainsmartofficial, MuntakaMubarak/Facebook
Source: Instagram

The nation’s security agencies - the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, and Ghana Prisons Service - commenced a recruitment exercise on November 17, 2025, to select the next batch of officers.

The exercise has been fraught with several challenges, particularly the aptitude test, which has seen complaints by Ghanaians about difficulties in taking the test and releasing the results.

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"It's extortion": Henry Kokofu chides gov’t over security service recruitment

Interior Minister speaks about recruitment exercise

On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, the Minister of the Interior, Honourable Mubaraka Muntaka, sparked outrage on social media after speaking about the ongoing exercise.

At a press conference, he stated that out of the more than 180,000 young Ghanaians who have applied for entry into the Ghana Immigration Service, only 1,000 would be selected.

“The total of over 180,000 young men wanted to join the Ghana Immigration Service. But the interesting thing is that today, the Ghana Immigration Service, the strength, from the Comptroller General to the last officer, stands at 18,300. Less than 20,000, yet you have 180,000 opting to join,” he said.

He added that the Service’s training and accommodation facilities can only cater for about 1,000 recruits in the ongoing exercise.

The Minister also added that out of the over 500,000 people who applied to enter the security services, only 5,000 would be selected.

Read also

Only 1,000 out of over 180,000 immigration service applicants to be recruited, Muntaka gives details

The YouTube video of the Interior Minister speaking is below.

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Captain Smart explains security service recruitment limit

Speaking on his show, Onua Maakye, on Thursday, March 12, 2026, media personality Captain Smart addressed the ongoing recruitment exercise saga.

The controversial journalist claimed that the reason for the limit on the number of people the government could recruit was an agreement signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

"Do you know the number of people this government can employ into the security services is capped due to the IMF programme entered into by the Akufo-Addo government? The arrangement is that this government cannot employ more than 5,000 people," Captain Smart said.

The TikTok video of Captain Smart speaking is below.

Captain Smart, EOCO, Shatta Wale, Raymond Archer, Onua TV, Onua Maakye
Captain Smart slams the EOCO boss Raymond Archer over the seizure of Shatta Wale's Lamborghini. Image credit: @onuatv
Source: Facebook

Captain Smart blasts EOCO boss

Previously, YEN.com.gh reported that Captain Smart slammed EOCO boss Raymond Archer over the seizure of Shatta Wale's yellow Lamborghini.

Read also

Ghanaian driver questions relevance of aptitude test after being disqualified, video goes viral

Speaking on his Onua TV show, he claimed that the state security official had a vendetta against the popular dancehall artist.

Captain Smart's accusation sparked massive reactions among fans of the artist on social media.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Godwin Nii Armah Okine avatar

Godwin Nii Armah Okine (Entertainment Editor) Godwin Nii Armah Okine has over a decade of experience in online content creation. He joined YEN.com.gh as an Entertainment Editor in May 2025. Godwin graduated from the Ghana Institute of Journalism with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Studies in 2014. He worked at GhanaCelebrities.Com between 2014-2025 as an Entertainment and later, Managing Editor. Godwin covered the 2014 Africa Youth Games in Gaborone as a student journalist for the African Olympic Committee (ANOCA) and the International Sports Press Association (AIPS). Contact godwnii-armah.okine@yen.com.gh