The Minority in Parliament has raised alarm over the government’s recruitment of New Patriotic Party (NPP) thugs into the security services, allegedly to aid the party’s chances in the 2024 elections.
Addressing a press conference, Minority Leader, Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson (Ph.D), stated that the recruitment, which has been done without advertisement and in breach of established procedures, is a calculated attempt to compromise the elections.
According to Hon. Forson, the NPP government has given out 30 slots each to its parliamentary candidates for recruitment into the security services, which is a clear case of nepotism and partisan consideration.
He noted that this is not the first time the government has engaged in such illegal recruitment, citing the 2018 and 2019 recruitment exercises which were also marred by fraud and nepotism.
The Minority Leader expressed concern that the loyalty of the new recruits will be to the ruling NPP and not to the state, which could lead to a repeat of the violence that occurred during the 2020 elections, where eight innocent Ghanaians were killed by NPP party hooligans masquerading as security personnel.
Hon. Forson called for an immediate halt to the recruitment into the security services, demanding that advertisements be made with clear qualification criteria to allow for equal opportunity for all Ghanaians to apply.
He warned that the Minority will resist any attempts to compromise the elections and will hold NPP thugs in uniform personally responsible for any unlawful violations.
The Minority’s press conference is a clear indication of the growing tension ahead of the 2024 elections, and the need for all stakeholders to work towards ensuring a peaceful and credible electoral process.
