The Center for Public Opinion and Awareness (CenPOA) has called on the government to scrap application fees for recruitment into the country’s security services, describing the practice as a financial barrier that undermines fairness and transparency.

In a statement issued on Monday, March 16, 2026, the organisation condemned the practice, noting that it places unnecessary financial burdens on applicants.

See full details as Fire, Police, Immigration and Prisons recruitment kicks off

“This practice raises serious ethical and policy concerns. At a time when thousands of young Ghanaians are struggling with unemployment, asking them to pay money merely for the opportunity to apply for public service jobs creates an unnecessary financial barrier. Many applicants purchase these forms despite having no assurance of progressing beyond the first stage of the recruitment process,” the statement said.

CenPOA further warned that the current system risks excluding capable candidates simply because they cannot afford the fees.

“More importantly, the current system risks excluding capable and qualified candidates simply because they cannot afford the recruitment fees. In effect, money becomes a gate,” the statement added.

The organisation also called on the government to implement reforms under the Reset Agenda championed by the administration.

“If the Reset Agenda is to truly represent a new direction in governance, one that prioritizes fairness, transparency, and citizen-centered policy, then eliminating financial barriers that prevent young people from accessing public service opportunities should be a natural starting point,” it stated.

Read the full statement below:



JKB/MA

Meet the 6 Akufo Addo ministers under investigation by Mahama government