Mr. Andrews Asiedu Tetteh, a security analyst and Director of Operations at the Centre for Gender, Peace and Security Relations (CGPSR), has condemned the government’s decision to dismiss over 500 security personnel, describing it as a “political witch hunt” that could have serious implications for national security.
He stated that the affected officers were disqualified on grounds such as academic credentials, age limits, and medical fitness. According to him, these criteria, though important, should not override the practical experience and tactical training these officers have received during their service.
“These individuals were recruited and trained in arms handling, tactical response, and security intelligence. Simply discarding them over paper qualifications is not only unfair but poses a serious threat to public safety,” Mr. Tetteh said in an interview with the press.
He emphasized that the dismissed personnel have undergone months of professional training and have been actively engaged in fieldwork, acquiring critical on-the-ground experience. “This kind of training cannot be taught in a classroom. The state is throwing away human resource capital that it invested heavily in,” he added.
Mr. Tetteh warned that the emotional and economic impact of these dismissals could make some of the affected officers vulnerable to recruitment by criminal organizations, terrorist networks, or politically motivated vigilante groups. “When you train someone in arms and abandon them without a proper exit or reintegration plan, you are creating a future security threat,” he warned.
He argued that instead of mass dismissal, the government could have implemented alternative corrective measures such as refresher courses, reassignments, or support schemes to help address individual gaps. “We are not talking about fresh recruits—we’re talking about operatives who have served, learned, and risked their lives,” he said.
Mr. Tetteh also criticized what he described as weak leadership at the top. He singled out the Interior Minister, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed, stating that his lack of depth and naïveté in managing national security matters poses a danger to the stability of the country. “We need serious leadership in that ministry. The stakes are too high,” he asserted.
He added that in today’s evolving security landscape, intelligence is not always gathered through formal means. “Sometimes, a security officer or NIB operative can pick up credible leads from social media platforms and follow up with successful interventions. Disqualifying such people based on academic certificates alone is shortsighted,” he said.
Mr. Tetteh also acknowledged that both major political parties—the NDC and NPP—have contributed to poor recruitment practices in the past. However, he accused the current NPP administration of taking it to extreme levels. “Both sides are guilty, but the NPP clearly overdid it. That doesn’t mean we should respond with reckless purging,” he emphasized.
According to him, “Paper disqualification and self-interest are gradually eroding professionalism within the security sector.” He cautioned that decisions based solely on academic qualifications, age, or medical screening—without consideration for field competence—can destabilize the service and erode public confidence.
He urged Parliament and civil society groups to take an active interest in the development and demand accountability. “The security sector is not a place for political scoring. We must treat it with the seriousness it deserves,” he stressed.
Mr. Tetteh concluded by calling on the Ministry of the Interior, the Police Council, and other relevant security agencies to immediately review the dismissals. He recommended that qualified, well-trained officers with clean records be considered for reinstatement. “This is more than an employment issue—it’s a matter of national security,” he concluded.
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