Politicisation and Corruption Bedevilled Security Recruitment Under Previous Govt – Agotime-Ziope MP

​The recruitment process into Ghana’s state security agencies under the previous administration was severely tainted by political bias and bribery, making it virtually impossible for opposition constituents to secure placements. Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News, the Member of Parliament for Agotime-Ziope, Charles Akwasi Agbeve, expressed deep frustration over the systemic barriers that prevented qualified young men and women in his constituency from joining the security services.

​Mr. Agbeve disclosed that despite serving in Parliament since 2017, he has not been able to facilitate the enlistment of a single constituent into the security institutions. He explained that political patronage dictated access, leaving opposition MPs sidelined despite earlier assurances that protocol slots would be extended to them while in opposition. According to the lawmaker, these promised protocol allocations never materialized, effectively shutting out non-aligned candidates.

​Beyond political affiliation, the Agotime-Ziope MP highlighted the alarming rise of monetary corruption within the recruitment pipeline. He revealed that paying bribes had become an unwritten prerequisite for obtaining enlistment into state institutions. However, he refrained from engaging in the illicit transaction due to the high risk of fraud and the difficulty of identifying legitimate contacts within the bribery network.

​Despite these persistent obstacles within the security sector, Mr. Agbeve emphasized that he remained committed to creating alternative employment opportunities for his constituents over the past eight years. He successfully assisted eight individuals in securing formal employment positions including roles in accounting, procurement, and storekeeping across various hospitals nationwide.

​In addition to formal job placements, the MP has focused heavily on local economic empowerment and self-reliance initiatives. He revealed that 122 young women in the Agotime-Ziope constituency have been provided with business tools and equipment to start their own enterprises, aiming to improve livelihoods and cushion the local economy against public sector recruitment challenges.

@Volta Today