The Ghana Armed Forces has 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, has now been 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.”

The service further apologised and appealed to the public for their usual cooperation.

“The Armed Forces regrets any inconvenience caused and counts on the cooperation of the general public”, the statement added.

How the recruitment process works

Applicants, who must strictly be Ghanaians of good conduct, are to purchase electronic vouchers at GH¢200 from authorised Ghana Post outlets such as Accra GPO, Cantonments, Dansoman, Kaneshie, Tema, Madina, and TUC.

The voucher contains a unique identity code which grants them access to the online application portal @

They then log into the GAF recruitment portal to fill out personal details, educational background, and preferred service branch (Army, Navy, or Air Force).

Required documents include a birth certificate, academic certificates, and a national ID. Meanwhile, the eligible age range for applicants is 18 to 25 years for non-trade roles, while trade applicants must be 27 years or younger. Physical fitness and medical screening are mandatory at later stages.

What Went Wrong with the Portal

Earlier reports suggested that applicants faced access disruptions, submission failures and slow response times .Some users couldn’t log in or load the portal due to server errors.

Slow response times: High traffic caused delays and timeouts. These challenges informed the service’s decision to extend the deadline to grant equal access for all applicants.

GAF announced their recruitment on Monday, September 29, in a statement signed by Acting Director General for Public Relations, Veronica Afei Arjun.

It outlined a new development in which the recruitment exercise would be conducted in all sixteen (16) regions nationwide.

This marks 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, is to ensure 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 comes 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.

Over the years, some scammers have demanded protocol fees ranging from GH¢2,000 to GH¢10,000, depending on the promises made and the desperation of applicants. Victims often paid multiple instalments, believing they were securing officer roles or fast-tracked enlistment. Payments were usually made in cash or through mobile money without receipts, making prosecution difficult. GAF has repeatedly stressed that recruitment is free and that any demand for payment is illegal.

In a Facebook post on September 29, Deputy Defence Minister Brogya Genfi revealed that the government is set to recruit about twelve thousand (12,000) personnel to strengthen the country’s defence. He further disclosed that the cost of recruitment forms has been slashed by 40 percent to ensure wider access and fairness.

“The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is undergoing a massive expansion beginning this week. Over the next 3 years, GAF will recruit 12,000 personnel to reinforce our national defence capabilities. In line with H.E. the President and Commander-in-Chief John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to affordability, accessibility and fairness, the cost of the recruitment forms has been reduced by over 40% compared to the last recruitment,” the Minister said.

He stressed that the recruitment process remains free of charge and cautioned against fraud.

“Let this be clear: Recruitment into the Ghana Armed Forces is NOT for sale, and will NEVER be for sale under our #EagleEyes watch. Any individual or syndicate involved in fraudulent recruitment schemes will be dealt with without mercy. Take Note that no recruitment will take place on social media. The process will be transparent and professional,” he emphasised.

The Minister also cautioned prospective applicants to be ready for the demands of military life.

“All qualified applicants must be medically fit and be prepared to abandon all hope of normal life! We are building a force that reflects the strength, discipline, and unity of Ghana,” he concluded.