A medical examination is a critical component during a security recruitment process for many reasons. Some recruits might have illnesses that could actually kill them during training. But I am saddened by the GHc800 charged potential recruits by some security agencies as medical examination fees.
This action is insensitive and lacks rectitude as these young people are unemployed with many of them not able to afford such an exorbitant fee. It makes me wonder where these agencies expect the applicants to get those monies from knowing full well they are unemployed and highly likely not to have money to perhaps even fend for themselves.
Consequently, this is tantamount to selling spaces because it’s incontrovertible that some can’t afford. Does that mean they will lose their place?
What happened to the monies realized from the thousands who bought forms but didn’t make it to this stage? For example, Police is expected to recruit about 5000 yet about 100,000 applied. Each applicant paid GHc100 for a form. That amounts to GHc10,000,000. What happened to those monies? All spent on administrative processes?
The fear is, we are psychologically preparing these potential officers to extort from citizens as they have been extorted all through their way in.
These are young people who have decided to avail themselves to serve the state. Why do they have to pay to serve the state? Don’t the security services have a budget for the recruitment exercise?
This is not done in any serious state that wants the best of its citizens. Worst case scenario, it could have been cheaper but certainly not GHc800. Government should intervene and stop this immorality that would likely drag these institutions into disrepute.
Adib Saani
Security Analyst/Exe. Dir. Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building
