I’m deeply troubled by Mahama’s security recruitment plan – Palgrave Boakye-Danquah

Former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, has expressed concern over President John Dramani Mahama’s intention to fulfil what he described as a controversial campaign promise to recruit party loyalists into the security services.
Dr. Boakye-Danquah said he was “deeply troubled” by the President’s commitment to this promise, which he claims was made during the campaign period.
“I am deeply troubled that President Mahama wants to fulfil a particular campaign promise that he gave, which is the fact that when he was campaigning to become president of the Republic of Ghana, he said, and the evidence is there, that when he wins, he will recruit children of his political party to come into the security system. He said this at Tamale Stadium,” he stated on Accra-based Channel One TV.
Dr. Boakye-Danquah explained that Ghana’s current recruitment process into the security services does not need changes, as it has been designed to ensure that physically fit and psychologically stable individuals are selected. He emphasized that the existing age requirements are in place for valid health and social reasons.
“We don’t have any problem whatsoever with our current system. The reason why you have people aged either under 20 or 25 going through military training and recruitment is because they have very minimal health risk, they have very minimal exposure to other external influences, and they are very healthy,” he said.
He further warned that recruiting older individuals could compromise the standards and efficiency of the security services, given potential health and lifestyle risks.
“They are either not addicted to other social vices, either drinking, smoking, or any of this, and if you pick people who are above 30, the risk is high they either have issues with low and high blood pressure, they have some addiction issue, or they have interacted too much with society,” Dr. Boakye-Danquah added.