General News of Tuesday, 7 July 2026

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Over 1,300 potential recruits test positive for HIV – Interior Minister

According to the minister, the discovery was made during routine medical screenings According to the minister, the discovery was made during routine medical screenings

Interior Minister, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, has revealed that more than 1,300 applicants seeking to join Ghana’s security agencies have tested positive for HIV.

Speaking before Parliament's Public Assurance Committee on July 7, 2026, the minister emphasised the gravity of the situation, noting that the discovery was made during routine medical screenings conducted as part of the recruitment process.

"I remember the recent recruitment we had. I think about 1,300 also were on HIV. Can you imagine sending somebody a result telling the person that you have HIV? That's not the procedure. The person has to go through some orientation," he said.

June 29 Floods: 'This country is not rich enough to build emergency shelters' - Muntaka

Muntaka explained that applicants who fail the medical examination are instead provided with contact details to enable them to voluntarily seek further information about their results.

He added that the health status of applicants is a critical factor in determining their eligibility, given the demanding nature of security service work.

He noted that several of the medical conditions identified during the screening are treatable, making it important for affected individuals to know their health status and seek appropriate care.

"Some of the things that we realised are treatable. People need to know and then also get treatment so that they can subsequently join," he stated.

VKB/AM

Ghana rejects Ramaphosa's state visit request amid xenophobic attacks