Security expert Ishmael Norman has expressed support for efforts by the Interior Minister to introduce merit-based recruitment into Ghana’s security services.
Speaking on PM Express on Joy News on Wednesday, the President of the Institute for Security, Disaster and Emergency Studies praised Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak for attempting to prioritise merit in the selection of personnel.
Dr Norman described the initiative as bold and necessary, particularly in a system where recruitment has often been influenced by political patronage.
“I think we need to applaud the minister for trying to base the selection on meritocracy,” he said.
According to him, the move represents a significant shift from long-standing practices in Ghana’s public administration.
Dr Norman said selecting candidates strictly on merit can be challenging, especially when financial and budgetary constraints limit the number of recruits that can be absorbed at once.
He suggested that implementing the recruitment exercise in phases could help authorities manage costs while maintaining fairness in the selection process.
By spreading recruitment over time, he said, more qualified candidates could eventually be accommodated without placing excessive pressure on government finances.
Despite supporting the reform, Dr Norman noted that merit-based systems may face resistance from sections of the public.
He argued that many people have become accustomed to patronage-driven opportunities where political or partisan connections influence access to jobs.
According to him, moving away from such practices requires confronting deeply rooted social and political attitudes.
Nevertheless, Dr Norman maintained that the Interior Minister’s approach is a step in the right direction and could strengthen credibility and professionalism within Ghana’s security sector.
He expressed confidence that maintaining a merit-based approach could ultimately benefit the government leading the reform.
