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ABAN Brief: Young Ghanaians should not pay to serve their country; refund the money
March 19, 2026
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ABAN Brief: Young Ghanaians should not pay to serve their country; refund the money

Money
Policy
Opportunity

Key Points

  • Ghana charged 506,618 young people GH₵ 220 each to apply for security service jobs, accumulating approximately GH₵ 111.32 million for only 5,000 available positions.
  • An additional 105,000 shortlisted applicants were required to pay GH₵ 1,600 for medical examinations, with only 5,000 ultimately recruited, leaving 100,000 paying without securing a position.
  • The article condemns this practice as a structural injustice, arguing it places an undue financial burden on unemployed youth and their families, often preventing otherwise qualified candidates from proceeding.
  • It highlights that other countries like Nigeria and Kenya offer free security service recruitment, contrasting with Ghana's approach.
  • The ABAN Center for Global Policy calls on President John Dramani Mahama to immediately refund the GH₵ 220 application fees, abolish such fees for future recruitment, and have the state absorb medical examination costs for shortlisted candidates.

Why This Matters

This issue highlights a significant challenge in Ghana regarding equitable access to public sector employment and the financial burden placed on citizens seeking opportunities. It raises questions about social justice, the state's responsibility, and the potential for such practices to exacerbate poverty and inequality among the youth.

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