'10 security recruits dismissed for hiding phones in pillows, making night calls' – Interior Minister

Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak Mohammed, has disclosed that at least 10 recruits have been dismissed from Ghana’s security services training schools for breaching a directive banning the possession of mobile phones during training.

According to the Minister, the recruits secretly kept their phones despite being required to surrender the devices upon reporting to their respective training institutions.

He said the dismissals were necessary to enforce discipline and ensure that recruits strictly complied with the rules governing their training.

Mr Muntaka made the disclosure during an interaction with students of Sakafiya Islamic Senior High School in Kumasi, where he discussed the security services recruitment process and the standards expected of prospective personnel.

He expressed concern about indiscipline among some recruits, particularly those who attempt to circumvent institutional regulations after securing admission to training schools.

The Minister said the latest recruitment exercise attracted more than half a million applications, with only about 10,000 candidates eventually selected for training.

He described the recruitment process as highly competitive and said the large number of applicants reflected the strong interest among young Ghanaians in pursuing careers in the security services.

Mr Muntaka stressed that successful applicants must understand that admission to a training school comes with responsibilities, including strict adherence to institutional rules and regulations.

He said recruits were required to surrender their mobile phones upon arrival at the training schools, but some defied the directive by concealing their devices.

“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.

“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 emphasised.