Anchoring Democracy Advocacy Movement Ghana (ADAM-GH), a civil society organization committed to upholding democratic principles, the rule of law, and good governance, has petitioned the President-elect, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, to suspend and dismiss ongoing last-minute recruitment efforts across security services and other agencies.
ADAM-GH has raised concerns about confirmed reports of the Narcotics Control Commission recruiting 700 individuals, predominantly members of the outgoing New Patriotic Party (NPP), who were actively campaigning during the December 7th General Elections. The recruits have been instructed to report to the Navy Training School on December 18, 2024, despite the current government being in its final days of power.
Mr. Francis Opoku Amoah, Director of Public Affairs at the Narcotics Control Commission, confirmed the recruitment efforts, citing financial clearance from January 2024, secured under the outgoing Interior Minister Hon. Henry Quartey. However, he admitted that the recruitment’s timing and urgency were beyond his and the Director General’s authority.
ADAM-GH has questioned why such large-scale recruitment was delayed until after the NPP lost power and only two weeks before the transition of government. It describes the move as a calculated attempt to burden the incoming administration financially—a “Beast of Burden Syndrome”—and a blatant disregard for democratic governance practices.
Key Concerns Raised by ADAM-GH:
1. Governance Continuity: Major decisions, such as massive recruitment, should be deferred out of respect for the incoming administration.
2. Bias and Lack of Transparency: The process appears to favor specific individuals affiliated with the outgoing government.
3. Lack of Public Advertisement: Questions remain about when the recruitment process was advertised, applications received, and candidates screened.
4. Financial Strain on Successor Government: The last-minute nature of this recruitment poses significant financial implications for the new government.
ADAM-GH also highlighted specific cases, including the recruitment of 200 cadets at the Leadership Training School (LTS) in Tema and 500 cadets at the Naval Training Command in Agorta, Volta Region. Additionally, concerns were raised about alleged politically motivated appointments, such as that of an NPP affiliate as Director of Audit Services at the Forestry Commission.
Petition to the President-elect
ADAM-GH has urged President-elect John Dramani Mahama to take immediate action by:
1. Suspending the ongoing recruitment.
2. Dismissing biased appointments and recruitments.
3. Reopening the recruitment process to ensure transparency, inclusivity, and meritocracy.
The organization emphasized that if there is a need for recruitment, the process should be restarted under the new government to ensure fairness and avoid creating unnecessary financial burdens.
Closing Appeal
Anchoring Democracy Advocacy Movement Ghana reiterated its commitment to promoting good governance and called on the President-elect to investigate these developments thoroughly.
