Accra: The Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building has urged authorities to prosecute individuals who are found to have presented forged academic certificates to secure admission into Ghana's security services training institutions. This call follows recent revelations by Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak, who disclosed that several recruits were dismissed after it was discovered they submitted forged or altered West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results during the recruitment process.
According to Ghana Web, Adib Saani, Executive Director of the Jatikay Centre, emphasized that while the dismissal of the affected recruits was necessary, it should not be the end of the matter. He argued that this incident exposed potential weaknesses in the recruitment and vetting procedures of Ghana's security agencies, particularly in the verification of academic credentials.
Saani suggested that applicants' certificates should be verified with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) before they are allowed to advance to the training stage. He expressed concerns that allowing candidates with questionable credentials to enter training, while other qualified applicants remain on waiting lists, could undermine fairness and damage confidence in the recruitment system.
The Centre has called for a comprehensive investigation into these cases, suggesting criminal prosecution for individuals found to have knowingly forged or used fraudulent certificates. Saani emphasized that certificate forgery should not be treated merely as a violation of recruitment rules, noting that it may constitute a criminal offence.
He also highlighted the national security risks of allowing individuals with compromised integrity to enter security institutions, as personnel in such roles may access weapons, intelligence, restricted locations, and other sensitive state information.
Consequently, the Jatikay Centre is demanding an immediate review and audit of the recruitment and vetting systems used by security services. They urge authorities to determine the number of fraudulent applications identified, how many applicants with questionable documents progressed through the recruitment process, and how many are currently undergoing training. Additionally, they seek to understand what safeguards will be implemented to prevent a recurrence of this issue.
The Centre insists on verifying academic credentials before recruitment, proper vetting of applicants before training, and referring proven cases of fraud for prosecution. 'The security of the Republic begins with the integrity of the people we recruit to protect it,' Saani stated.