Ghana Armed Forces to recruit 12,000 personnel in 3 years – Defence Minister

Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has disclosed that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) will recruit 12,000 personnel over the next three and a half years to strengthen the country’s security architecture.

Speaking during the Government Accountability Series at the Jubilee House on Monday, the Minister said the recruitment will be undertaken through an enhanced and more secure process to eliminate fraudulent activities often associated with enlistment.

“I’m excited to announce to you that, as has been communicated by the Commander-in-Chief, a comprehensive enlistment and recruitment exercise will be undertaken with the view of increasing the manpower strength of the Ghana Armed Forces.

Altogether, we are enlisting and recruiting twelve thousand (12,000) personnel within the next three and a half years,” Dr. Boamah stated.

He indicated that the exercise will be carried out under a robust recruitment system that makes it difficult for fraudsters to exploit prospective applicants.

As part of efforts to align the Armed Forces with the country’s industrialisation and food security agenda, Dr. Boamah revealed that future recruitment phases will focus on applicants with specialised qualifications. These include agricultural extension officers, engineers, biochemists, and skilled artisans.

He added that the Ministry of Defence is working to enhance the capabilities of the official recruitment and enlistment portal ahead of the upcoming manpower enhancement drive scheduled between August and September.

The Minister also warned the public against recruitment scams, stressing that the Ghana Armed Forces has not authorised any individual or institution to conduct enlistment on its behalf.

“Let me sound a note of warning that the Ghana Armed Forces has not contracted or delegated any individual, organisation or institution to undertake any recruitment and enlistment on its behalf.

The public is therefore advised of scammers who pose as agents for the Ghana Armed Forces. You engage them at your own risk. Report them to lawful authority,” he cautioned.

Dr. Boamah emphasized that under President Mahama’s administration, recruitment into the Ghana Armed Forces will be strictly based on merit, not financial influence.

*Forest Reserves Reclaimed*

The Minister also lauded the Ghana Armed Forces for their role in reclaiming forest reserves that had been overrun by illegal mining activities.

“The recovery of several forest reserves, which our forest guards could not even venture into, was led by the Ghana Armed Forces,” he said.

Navy’s Role in Operation Halt II

Dr. Boamah further commended the Ghana Navy’s contribution to Operation Halt II, a joint security operation aimed at halting illegal mining activities along the River Ankobra in the Western and Western North Regions.