President Mahama has officially announced that twelve thousand (12,000) new Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) personnel will be recruited by the year 2029.

At the Ghana Military Academy Graduation Parade in Accra on January 31, 2026, for Regular Career Course 64 and Special Duties Course 62, President Mahama stated that recruitment into the Ghana Armed Forces will be strictly merit-based, with only qualified individuals given the opportunity to serve among the 256 new officers.

"Over the next three years, approximately twelve thousand new personnel will be recruited nationwide, supported by the establishment of forward operating basis in strategic border areas. These initiatives reflect our unwavering commitment to a professional, resilient, and well-equipped armed forces," the President announced.

President Mahama emphasized that the recruitment process would be conducted with transparency, fairness, and merit, warning that any form of influence, favoritism, or unauthorized hiring would not be allowed.

He praised the graduating officers for their discipline and hard work during training, and encouraged them to maintain professionalism, loyalty, and integrity as they serve the nation.

On matters of national security, the President urged all citizens to remain vigilant and support the security forces, especially in combating terrorism and other emerging threats.

He stressed that protecting the country’s peace and stability is a shared responsibility, requiring active cooperation between security agencies and the public.

In November last year, recruitment exercise conducted by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) lead to a stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra.

It claimed the lives of at least six individuals, with several others who got injured.

Reports indicated that the incident occurred as thousands of young Ghanaians thronged the stadium, forced their way through the entry points in an attempt to secure enlistment into the Service.

The bodies of the deceased were deposited at the 37 Military Hospital morgue, while several others received emergency treatment.

The Ghana Armed Forces announced an extension of the date for its originally scheduled one-month recruitment exercise.

The national defence force’s recruitment exercise, which was expected to end on October 31, was extended to November 7. GAF announced the new date in an official statement shared on November 1st via their official X (formerly Twitter). The statement titled “Extension of recruitment deadline” and signed by the Acting Director General, Public Relations, Evelyn Ntiamoah Asamoah, reads,

“The Ghana Armed Forces has extended the deadline for the ongoing recruitment exercise by one week due to some technical challenges encountered on the recruitment portal during the initial period. The new deadline is 7 November 2025.”

Before the extension, GAF, in a statement signed by Acting Director General for Public Relations, Veronica Afei Arjun, outlined a new development in which the recruitment exercise were conducted in all sixteen (16) regions nationwide.

It noted that it marked a significant change in the security force’s recruitment process, moving away from the traditional method that was largely centralised in a few selected centres such as Accra, Tamale, and Kumasi. The new approach, GAF explained, ensures equal opportunity for applicants across the country, particularly those in remote or underserved areas who previously had to travel long distances and incur high costs.

“The Ghana Armed Forces wishes to inform the public that the 2025 Enlistment/Recruitment Exercise into the Ghana Armed Forces will commence in the coming days at all the regional capitals of the 16 Regions of the country. This approach offers equal opportunity for all potential applicants in the entire country,” parts of the statement read.

According to GAF, recruitment announcements will be made through its official website and Ghana’s two main state-owned national newspapers.

GAF also warned the public to disregard recruitment advertisements circulating on social media, stressing that no member of the force would issue such notices or ads.

“The general public is kindly informed that any purported recruitment links on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or any other social media platforms inviting people for protocol recruitment are a scam and should be ignored. Additionally, no such enlistment/recruitment invitation will emanate from any member of the Ghana Armed Forces or its High Command and should be ignored as well,” it added. “The Ghana Armed Forces counts on the cooperation of the general public in this endeavour.”

The strong warning came against the backdrop of fraudulent recruitment schemes that have increased in recent years, particularly on social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. These scams often promise “protocol recruitment,” suggesting backdoor access in exchange for payment.

Scammers typically impersonate senior officers, circulate fake enlistment links, and demand fees in return for guaranteed placement.