CPP lashes out at the government over security services enlistment forms fees

The Convention Peoples Party has taken a swipe at the government over the sale of forms into the various security services.

In what could turn out to be a battle in court, the party has threatened legal action against the government if it [government] does not take steps to ban the practice which has existed for years.

According to the Director of Media Affairs, Nana Asempa, the state should not extort money from the youth who have willingly decided to serve the government.

This was made known during a press briefing by the CPP on  Wednesday over reports indicating that desperate unemployed young Ghanaians are in long queues at banks or on parks in a bid to get enlisted into the various security services.

That has been the story since the Ghana Police Service, Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, and the Prisons Service opened their portals for enlistment. The queues at the GCB bank, for instance, have gotten longer.

All prospective recruits are to purchase a registration form for GHS100 at GCB bank to initiate the process or via Mobile Money through a shortcode. This GHS100 fee charged the aspiring youths has already sparked critical comments from a section of the public.

Nana Asempa, further said the charging of fees is pervasive and not restricted to the security services alone.

He lamented on the fact that the issue has remained underreported, even nurses, teachers, and some civil service institutions charge some form of registration fee before a Ghanaian job seeker begins the process that does not even guarantee employment.

A furious Nana Asempa also pointed to how agitated the country’s youth are as a result of conditions in the country. Look at #FixTheCountry. We will take all actions including going to court to stop this. We are even going to petition CHRAJ,”

 A campaign has thus been launched by the CPP on social media – Facebook and Twitter – to get one million signatures against the charges for enlistment into state agencies.

By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh

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