Over 6,000 Applicants Fail Ghana Security Services Medical Screening Over Drug Abuse and Mental Health Concerns
More than 6,000 applicants seeking recruitment into Ghana’s security services have reportedly been disqualified after failing medical examinations linked to drug abuse and mental health conditions, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
The revelation was made by Ghana’s Interior Minister, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, during an interview on Pan African TV on Saturday, May 23, 2026.
According to the Minister, over 100,000 applicants underwent medical screening as part of the ongoing recruitment exercise into the country’s security services, including the police, immigration, fire, and prison services.
Mr. Muntaka explained that authorities decided to expand the scope of the medical examinations following growing concerns about discipline, substance abuse, and the psychological wellbeing of personnel within the security agencies.
He disclosed that more than 4,000 applicants failed mandatory drug tests, while over 2,000 others were disqualified after mental health assessments.
“We have over 100,000 people who went through the medicals. Because of the large numbers, and because of what we have observed within the services, we introduced additional checks including mental health assessments and drug tests,” the Minister stated.
The latest figures have sparked national discussions about rising substance abuse and mental health challenges among Ghanaian youth, especially among job seekers hoping to join state security institutions.
Background to the Recruitment Exercise
Earlier this year, the Interior Ministry disclosed that more than 105,000 applicants had qualified for the medical stage of the recruitment process, despite the fact that only about 5,000 slots were available across the security agencies.
The recruitment exercise is one of the largest in recent years and forms part of government efforts to strengthen national security institutions and improve manpower across the services.
Authorities had already indicated that the recruitment process would be more rigorous than previous exercises, with stricter screening procedures aimed at ensuring professionalism, discipline, and fitness among recruits.
The introduction of mental health evaluations and drug screening marks a significant shift in Ghana’s security recruitment system, as previous exercises focused mainly on physical fitness and basic medical examinations.
Growing Concerns Over Drug Abuse and Mental Health
The development has also reignited concerns over increasing drug use among sections of the youth population in Ghana. Experts have in recent years warned about the growing abuse of substances including tramadol, marijuana, opioids, and other narcotics among young people.
Mental health advocates have similarly raised concerns about the lack of adequate mental health support systems, especially for unemployed youth facing economic hardship and social pressure.
Security analysts believe the government’s decision to intensify psychological and drug assessments is intended to prevent future disciplinary problems and ensure only mentally stable and medically fit individuals are enlisted into the country’s security services.
The Interior Minister stressed that the enhanced screening measures are necessary to protect the integrity and effectiveness of the security agencies and to maintain public confidence in the services.
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